A former police officer has paid a hefty price for fraud committed a decade ago while in the Free State police service. The Kestell Magistrates’ Court sentenced her to a fine of R60 000 and ordered her to repay the full amount she defrauded the state.
Lt. Col Salmina Khuthala Majingo’s (47) sentencing yesterday, 1 November, is a result of an in-depth probing by the Bloemfontein-based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team, which presented compelling evidence.
Lt. Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Majingo pleaded guilty to charges of fraud she committed while working in Kestell in 2012. She has been appearing in the court since July this year.
“Majingo was sentenced to a fine of R60 000, or three years’ imprisonment, which is wholly suspended for five years. In addition, she was ordered to pay back the R19 000 she fraudulently took from the state,” said Mohobeleli. He explained that the money in resettlement cost, which Majingo took, is a benefit given to members of the police service when appointed to a post outside their primary place of residence.
Mohobeleli said intensive probing by the Hawks revealed compelling findings against Majingo.
“Upon resuming duties in her new post, she did not reside in Kestell. Instead, she travelled in an official vehicle to and from work between Bethlehem and Kestell. Months later, she submitted a claim for resettlement costs to the amount of R19 000, despite having not relocated to Kestell,” said Mohobeleli. He said the accused resigned from the police service when charges of fraud were instituted.
Majingo was based in Vereeniging, Gauteng, at the time of her arrest in June this year.
