Pretoria - The Sasolburg Magistrates’ Court has remanded a 48-year-old man in custody after he was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on charges of theft.
The Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation team in Johannesburg apprehended Japhet Khumalo (48) on Friday, on theft of cash allegations at Valkfontein, in Lenasia South.
“Khumalo’s arrest emanated from his employer, Fidelity Security Services’ daily inspection of cash reported to have been loaded on automated teller machines (ATM) in the Sasolburg area on Thursday,” said Hawks spokesperson in Gauteng, Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
Based on Fidelity’s suspicions on the alleged missing R200 000 cash, the matter was reported to the Hawks in Johannesburg.
“The investigation team swiftly traced Khumalo and arrested him in Vlakfontein, Lenasia South. Further investigation led the police to another address in the same area where they recovered a bag containing the suspected stolen cash inside a wardrobe,” said Mulamu.
“Khumalo was subsequently charged with theft, and during his court appearance today, he was remanded in custody pending investigation.”
The case was postponed to 18 October for a formal bail application.
Mulamu said the matter was referred to the Sasolburg police detectives for further investigation.
Earlier this month, the Hawks in Gauteng said a 54-year-old man appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court charged with fraud of about R2.2 million.
“It is alleged that Christiaan Frederick van Wyk created fraudulent payment transactions between 2012 and 2018 when he was working at a Melrose-based company, PEG Holdings, as a secretary and financial manager,” said Mulamu at the time.
She said the Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation team in Johannesburg received the matter for investigation into the allegations against Van Wyk.
“Further investigation revealed that Van Wyk transferred approximately R2.2 million on different transactions into his bank accounts for the period,” said Mulamu.
Van Wyk appeared in court and was granted R10 000 bail.
IOL