SEDIBENG – A police officer and two employees of a local funeral parlour remain behind bars following their arrest on charges of corruption, fraud, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice.
According to a source close to the investigation, the accused were allegedly involved in a sophisticated insurance scam.
The scandal was uncovered by an FNB forensic investigator, who was initially following up on a suspicious insurance claim filed by a popular funeral parlour.
Upon closer examination, the investigator discovered that the claim documents were signed by the Warrant Officer [name known to the paper], who falsely presented himself as an investigating officer from the Sharpeville police station.
Ster learned that the arrested officer, in reality, serves with the Sedibeng Public Order Police and had no authority over the case he claimed to investigate.
In a leaked document obtained by Sedibeng Ster, the forensic investigator detailed how the Warrant Officer’s fraudulent documents cited a non-existent case of reckless and negligent driving.
The document stated: “I the complaint who is an FNB forensic investigator received fraudulent document that was completed at Sharpeville police station by alleged investigating officer Warrant Officer M****** as per case of reckless and negligent driving. Through my investigation, I discovered that there is no such case of culpable homicide nor such investigating officer at Sharpeville SAPS. The Warrant allegedly impersonated himself as an investigating officer.”
Investigation further uncovered that the identity of a deceased individual, who had passed away some time ago, was used to make fraudulent claims against FNB and potentially other insurance companies.
Gauteng police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said “Police can confirm that a Warrant Officer from South African Police Service, attached to Sedibeng Public Order Policing, was arrested on Friday, 21 June 2024 and charged with fraud, perjury and defeating the ends of justice. Police cannot divulge more information on this case as the matter is at court and still under investigation.”
Masondo said the officer is the third suspect to be arrested on the case.
