Bloemfontein - A Gauteng woman, accused of defrauding the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality of R5 million, is due to appear in the Phutaditjhaba Magistrate's Court today.
The 30-year-old from Klipspruit was discovered by the Gauteng provincial Hawks allegedly depositing large sums of money into her personal account and then electronically transferring it into various unknown accounts.
Free State Hawks spokesperson Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said the banks suspected something was going under the FICA Act and alerted the Gauteng Hawks, who in turn brought the matter to the attention of the Free State Hawks Commercial Crime unit for further investigations.
"It was established that she allegedly defrauded Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality in Qwaqwa of an amount of R5 million which she transferred into her personal account. As to how she managed to do it, that is being investigated," said the Hawks.
The woman is not an employee of the municipality, does not stay in QwaQwa and she does not do any business with the municipality.
Any person with information on the case can contact the Bloemfontein Commercial Crime unit's Lieutenant Colonel Mokoena 082 372 3322.
The woman, who appeared in court on 16 August, is expected to make a formal bail application today.
