Council trio held over bill fraud

Three council employees have been arrested on allegations of fraud which could have prejudiced the municipality and big business to the tune of hundreds of thousands or even millions of rand.

The three, aged 28, 30 and 35, are said to have colluded with residents who owed water and electricity bills amounting to tens of thousands of rand to have their accounts fraudulently cleared and apparently transferred to those of big business.

According to information from highly-placed sources, people with huge bills would go to the men and pay them a certain amount to have their accounts cleared so that they could continue to get water and electricity. The debt would then be fraudulently cleared and it would appear as if everything was in order.

The operation was discovered when directors and supervisors were doing a round of inspections at the men’s work stations.

The authorities detected fraud on some accounts and sounded alarm bells. The men were then arrested by members of the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) and taken to the Pretoria Central police station where they were questioned.

TMPD spokeswoman Charmaine Louwrens said they were looking for a fourth suspect. “The fourth suspect was not at work when we arrested these suspects. It was established that the men cleared accounts from the municipality’s system for people who owe large amounts. They opened new accounts for residents with bills of more than R30 000,” said Louwrens.

She said investigations were continuing and police expected to unearth more fraudulent activities which could result in more charges. Those who paid the men to cancel their accounts could also be arrested as investigations continue,” Louwrens said. - Pretoria News