The South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced the suspension of a captain from the Protection Security Services (PSS) following an internal investigation that revealed discrepancies and suspicious transactions within the division. The captain, who was assigned to the finance section of the PSS, is accused of misusing his access to the finance system to withdraw large sums of money.
According to the SAPS, the captain manipulated the system to book out cash under the pretense of it being for traveling expenses of close protectors attached to the PPS. However, further investigations revealed that the money was not received by the close protectors and was instead booked out in lump sum cash amounts by the captain.
The case has been registered at the Sunnyside police station in Pretoria, and an internal departmental investigation has led to the captain’s suspension. General Fannie Masemola, the National Commissioner of the SAPS, commended the Financial Management Division for identifying and addressing criminality within the service. Masemola also instructed the SAPS anti-corruption unit to investigate the matter further. “We take this opportunity to assure the nation that we have stringent measures in place to ensure taxpayers’monies are utilized for the service of the nation and that the SAPS will not tolerate fraud and corruption within its ranks, “General Masemola said in a statement.
The SAPS emphasized that no close protector attached to the President, Deputy President, Ministers, or Deputy Ministers is implicated in the case. The statement comes as a reassurance to the public, ensuring that the investigation is focused on the individual involved and not on any broader implications for the PPS or the SAPS as a whole.
Source: allafrica
