Two Former Spar Employees Arrested For R2.3 Million Fraud
The Hawks in the Eastern Cape have arrested two former employees of Acres Spar in Gqeberha for allegedly stealing R2.3 million from the business over a two-year period.
Nicole Bekker, 37, the former general manager, and Chantelle Erasmus, 48, the former bookkeeper, at the spar were apprehended on Wednesday, April 23, by the Gqeberha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit of the Hawks.
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According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the two spar employees are accused of conspiring between 2021 and 2023 to pocket cash from daily store earnings, which they were responsible for recording and depositing into the company’s bank account.
The suspects made their first court appearance on the same day of their arrest and were released on R5,000 bail each.dddf
They are facing charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering.
Financial Irregularities
The investigation was launched after an internal audit revealed discrepancies in cash deposits.
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The Hawks allege that Bekker and Erasmus not only withheld deposits but also enlisted a third party at times to make deposits for the spar in an attempt to mask the theft.
“Investigations confirmed the allegations that the suspects connived with the intention of stealing from the store.
As a result, Spar suffered a financial loss of R2.3 million,” said Mhlakuvana.
Case Postponed
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The case has been postponed to June 17 to allow the defense time to review the docket.
Meanwhile, acting provincial head of the Hawks, Brigadier Romeo Fredrick Petrus, praised the investigation team in Gqeberha for their diligence and effective action.
“This arrest demonstrates our commitment to fighting white-collar crime. I commend the team for ensuring a watertight case,” Petrus said.
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