Former cop sentenced to 8 years in jail for defrauding SAPS over R2.4m

A former police officer who served as the admin clerk under the Finance Section, has been sentenced to eights years’ imprisonment for defrauding the police’s finance department of more than R2.4 million.

The Bloemfontein Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced the accused, Mpho Godfrey Selesho, for fraud and money laundering on July 21.

Selesho was involved in fraudulent activities where he stole state funds for his own benefit to the amount of more than R2 million.

He was working at the Finance Section within the SAPS Provincial Headquarters based in Bloemfontein at the time of the incident.

Hawks spokesperson in the province, captain Christopher Singo, said the incident took place during the period of 2014 to 2016.

“A case was registered and handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Bloemfontein for further investigation which culminated to the conviction of Selesho,” said Singo.

The court sentenced Selesho to eight years direct imprisonment on a count of fraud of which six years is suspended for a period of five years on condition that he is not found guilty of the same offence during the period of suspension.

The accused was also ordered to pay back the amount of R2.4 million back to the state.

The amount of R500 000 to be paid back on the day of sentencing and the remaining to be paid on a monthly installment of R53 000 starting from August 1.