KWAZULU-NATAL – On 13 February 2023, the Hawks members from Pietermaritzburg Serious Commercial Crime Investigation arrested a 40-year-old suspect for two counts of fraud which happened at the Office of the Premier in KwaZulu-Natal.

It is alleged that the suspect applied for a Project Manager’s post in 2010 and submitted fraudulent qualifications. He was employed and in 2019, he further applied for a Deputy Director’s post and he was appointed to that post.

The Department of Public Administration conducted qualification verification and the suspect failed to submit the original documents as requested. It was discovered that his qualifications were fraudulent and disciplinary steps were instituted against him. The Office of the Premier was defrauded R 3 720 422 and a case of fraud was reported at Pietermaritzburg police station. The case docket was allocated to Hawks members for further investigation hence he was charged yesterday, 13 February 2023.

He is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on 16 March 2023.

Source: South African Police Service