Hawks and private investigator implicated in R4-million fraud case
19 March 2024
A Hawks intelligence detective and a private investigator are the suspects in an allegedly unlawful and fraudulent covert operation that has cost Macadamia South Africa (SAMAC) at least
R4-million. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit accompanied SAMAC representatives to the Nelspruit Police Station today where corruption, fraud and theft cases were opened against the pair. The criminal complaint also identifies two senior officers in the Hawks as possible suspects for their alleged failure to take action when they were made aware of the alleged unlawful activity. The alleged offences date back to 2016.
SAMAC alleges that between 2016 and 2020, the private investigator together with the Hawks detective created the impression that they were lawfully conducting a Hawks covert operation to identify, arrest and prosecute members of a syndicate trading in stolen macadamias.
SAMAC carried the costs of this operation through the private investigator, which they were told was in the furtherance of a legitimate undercover operation. Further, it is alleged that the private investigator and Hawks detective invoiced the organisation for travel expenses and even attending meetings. SAMAC alleges that most of the items it purchased are unaccounted for.