A 59-year-old woman from Laaiplek, West Coast was arrested yesterday by members attached to the Provincial Commercial Crime Investigations unit. She is facing allegations of fraud, money laundering, theft, and forgery, all uttering to the value of R2.5 million, with a combined potential loss of R4.5 million.
“An external auditor whose services were requested by the owner of a shipping company to obtain a tax clearance certificate found fraudulent activities on the company’s accounts,” says Police spokesperson, Captain Frederick Van Wyk.
The company owner opened a criminal case after further irregularities were found within the company’s books during the audit process.
“Between the period of January 2016 and June 19, she fraudulently transferred money from the complainants’ business account into her personal bank account and various other family members’ bank accounts as well as her own business account” added Van Wyk.
The suspect was the bookkeeper of a shipping company in Laaiplek, making her responsible for all creditors’ and debtors’ accounts.
According to the police, further allegations against her include the use of the company’s credit cards involving, but not limited to overseas trips. Additionally, she acquired and registered property and a vehicle to her own name by forging and presenting documents to the owner under the pretence that the vehicle was registered in the company name.
She is due to appear on Monday 11 July 2022 in the Laaiplek Magistrates courts on the aforementioned charges.
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