Phelisa Lande, a 45-year-old former security guard for the Hawks, was fined R5,000 after submitting a false matric certificate to apply for a position at the Bellville office of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
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The Bellville Magistrate’s Court found Lande, who is no longer employed by the Directorate, guilty on two counts of fraud after he pleaded guilty, according to Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, a spokesperson for the police, who spoke to IOL.
Hani claimed that on 8 August 2022, the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Investigation team in Bellville issued an arrest warrant for the accused for fabricating her credentials.
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On 10 August, 2022, Lande made her initial court appearance in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on a charge of fraud and was granted R1000 bail.
‘In October 2021, a post was advertised for a security official in the Hawks offices in Bellville. When she applied for the position, the accused allegedly submitted a fraudulent matriculation certificate, which was one of the requirements for the post.’
‘As a result, the accused was appointed as a security official in the Bellville, Western Cape, office, where she occupied the post,’ said Hani.
The Hawks checked the credentials with the Department of Education to confirm the authenticity of the certificate after noticing the suspicious certificate, according to Hani.
‘During this process, the allegation of fraud was discovered. Further investigation revealed that the accused submitted the same qualification for her previous employment, where she was employed as a security officer,’ added Hani.
Hani claims that Lande admitted guilt on two counts of fraud and was given a sentence of R5000, or five months’ direct incarceration with all subsequent terms suspended for five years.
Two charges of violating Section 20 of the Security Industry Regulations Act 56 of 2001 were dropped by the State.
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Picture: Supplied