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Four suspects, including a police officer, made a brief appearance in the Matatiele Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of fraud, theft and corruption.
They were granted bail of R1 500 each with stringent conditions and will be back in court on 26 November.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, says the court process follows an intensive investigation by the SAPS Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit into reports of the misuse of Police Service petrol cards.
It was established that the arrested police officer would collect the SAPS petrol cards of all vehicles which had been brought to the garage for mechanical problems.
While these vehicles were still being attended to in the police garage, he would use the different petrol cards in collaboration with petrol attendants, a supervisor and cashiers in exchange for cash.
The suspects, including 40-year-old police Sergeant Moatisi Mohapi, were arrested early on Wednesday. Mohapi is stationed at Mbizeni Police Station.
The estimated amount defrauded is around R26 000 but Brigadier Kinana says as the investigation continues it is expected to be in excess of R53 000.
