3 BUILD IT WORKERS ARRESTED FOR E2M THEFT

PIGG’S PEAK – Three Build it employees have been arrested for allegedly defrauding the retail chain store about E2 million.The trio were apprehended on Tuesday, on different occasions. Witnesses said the arresting officers did not encounter any resistance when they confronted the three employees over their alleged offences. They were detained at Pigg’s Peak Police Station and subsequently charged for the offences.Sources disclosed that the three female employees had allegedly exploited systems within the hardware and building material outlet to steal various amounts, which were all calculated to be close to E2 million.

Female

The female employees allegedly carried out the thefts over a prolonged period of time, without being detected. Their clandestine moves, however, were reportedly uncovered when management launched an investigation sometime last year.The stock haemorrhage was immediately reported to the police commercial fraud unit. This came to light around November last year when accountants at the shop’s head office noted the irregularity.The employees apparently carried on with their alleged systematic thieving, while detectives were conducting their investigation. It worked out because management had regarded the trio as their trusted servants, and each time they enquired about the shortage, they would not get satisfactory responses.
Police investigations ultimately discovered that the employees had defrauded the retail chain different amounts.

One of the employees was investigated for allegedly pocketing over E1 million, while her other workmate was suspected to have siphoned about E400 000 into her own pockets. The other one was eventually charged for the theft of about E350 000.Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the arrests when contacted earlier on.The three employees have already been indicted. They made their first appearance before a judicial officer at the Pigg’s Peak Magistrates Court yesterday, facing different charges of theft.

This is not an isolated incident as different business establishments have previously reported incidents where they had incurred losses at the hands of their employees. Stealing from an employer is regarded as a serious offence, and courts usually frown upon such criminal behaviour.Criminal behave has the potential to increase the cost of doing business. It has also been discovered to have a significant negative effect on foreign direct investment inflows. Investors usually shun destinations, where there is the potential to lose money from thieving employees or violent criminal activities. This was further confirmed by an economist who was contacted by this publication yesterday.
 

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