Finance clerk, arrested for allegedly stealing R2.4 million at Lichtenburg primary school, released on R5,000 bail

A finance clerk at Lichtenburg primary school, in North West, appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrate's Court facing 436 counts of fraud and theft.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said Lorato Junitor Motiki was arrested by the Mahikeng-based Hawks' serious commercial crime investigation unit on Friday.

Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks said Motiki was arrested following an investigation into multiple counts of fraud she allegedly committed between November 2019 and June 2023.

“Investigation revealed that Motiki has on the said periods, made multiple transactions from the school's bank account to her three personal bank accounts which she pretended belonged to service providers, paying for services such as procurement of stationery, security, refunds, water and electricity rendered to the school,” said Malwetse.

“Reports further indicated that at times during the same period, she would defraud the school by creating forms requiring authorisation and signatures for release of funds for payment by the school when in reality, none of those services were rendered to the school.”

As a result, Malwetse said the school suffered a loss of over R2.4 million.

Motiki appeared in court and was released on R5,000 bail.

The matter was postponed to January 28, 2025, for her appearance before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

Meanwhile, North West acting provincial head of the Hawks, Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari have lauded the investigation and prosecution teams “for their relentless efforts in fighting criminality in government institutions”.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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