State fuel scam: Police official hands himself over to the police

LIMPOPO – A tenth suspect in the state fuel scam was arrested on Wednesday, 10 February after he handed himself over to the police, says the Hawks.

The suspect, a 29-year-old is an official at the Groblersdal Police Station, will face the same charges as his colleagues and will appear in court soon, says Hawks Spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke.

Meanwhile the nine suspects who were arrested on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, in connection with a  said scam appeared in the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court earlier today.

All accused face charges of fraud and theft after they colluded to steal money from the state using police issued petrol cards. The state has suffered a loss of over R100 000 thus far.

“Today in court the five police officials, three sergeants and two constables, who were arrested during the initial take-down operation were remanded in custody until Friday, 12 February for formal bail application. While the four accused, two cashiers and two petrol attendants, who were arrested on Tuesday were remanded in custody until 15 February for formal bail application, Maluleke concluded.

08:15

LIMPOPO – Ongoing investigations into a fuel scam involving South African Police Service (SAPS) issued petrol cards has resulted in the arrest of four more people. This brings the total number of people arrested in connection with the said scam, to nine, says Hawks Spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke.

During the initial take-down operation the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit arrested five police officials who are attached to the Groblersdal Police Station.

The latest arrest on Tuesday, 9 February saw the apprehension of two petrol attendants and two cashiers from a filling station in Groblersdal. Malulekek explained that the four suspects had allegedly colluded with the police officials to to unlawfully refuel their private vehicles and purchase unauthorised items at the filling station.

In an earlier statement Maluleke said the suspects would wait for motorists to pay cash for their fuel then would swipe the fleet card in return for money and share it among themselves. The state a suffered a loss of over R100 000 thus far.

Read more: Limpopo Hawks nab five police officials in state fuel scam

All the arrested suspects, including the five police officials, will appear in the Groblersdal Magistrates court today (Wednesday, 10 February) on charges of fraud and theft. Maluleke added that an operation to trace the remaining suspects is still ongoing and arrests are imminent. “

Investigations into similar offences around the province are also underway,” he concluded.