'PHANTOM ARMY' CASE POSTPONED IN PTA
The fraud case involving more than R1 million against a senior administration clerk of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was postponed in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday for further investigation.
Zelda Wolmarans, 44, of Clubview was arrested in April this year on charges of defrauding her employer of R1,1 million.
Her two children, Chrizelle and Pieter Jacobus Stephanus van Vuuren, and her three stepchildren, Dirk Jacobus, Maria Fransina and Christina Johanna, all Wolmarans, were also arrested and granted bail of R5 000 each. The trials were then separated.
Shortly after the arrests the Asset Forfeiture Unit seized fixed properties in Pretoria, six motor vehicles, a 125cc Honda motorbike, a Sanlam policy, Department of Defence Pension benefits and numerous bank accounts belonging to the accused.
The National Directorate of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) earlier said in a statement that Wolmarans was appointed by the SANDF in August 1993.
Her duties included capturing information of army reserve force members who were called up for courses or training sessions.
Investigators were working on a similar matter when they realised that Wolmarans was using false information and pretended that part-time reserve force members were called up for courses and training, claiming for their alleged fictitious attendances from the Department of Defence's salary system.
By doing this, the Department of Defence unknowingly made payments into the bank accounts of Wolmarans, her children and stepchildren.
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28 Juillet 2006 à 17:20 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
