1116 Counts of theft totaling R2,5 Million, employee convicted, Sasolburg

South African Police Service

1116 Counts of theft totaling R2,5 Million, employee convicted, Sasolburg
1116 Counts of theft totaling R2,5 Million, employee convicted, Sasolburg

Mareli Vogel (58) was found guilty by the Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Sasolburg on Thursday, 16 March 2023 for 1,116 counts of theft.

Vogel was arrested in September 2021 after a case was opened against her at Sasolburg SAPS in January 2020 and charged for theft of money stolen from a company she was working for.

The owner of the business was notified by ABSA bank on 24 December 2019 after a large amount of cash was withdrawn from his business account and he had no knowledge of such a transaction.

An internal investigation was conducted by the business owner, where it was discovered that Vogel, who was the financial officer and the only person having access to the business online banking at the time, fraudulently transferred money from the business account to her personal account between 2014 and 2020 to an estimated value of R2 500 000.

A case was reported and referred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Bethlehem for further probe. An intense investigation by the team led to the successful conviction of Vogel who remained in custody since her arrested.

She is due to appear in the same court for sentencing on the 1 June 2023.

As we await the sentencing, the Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba applauded the sterling work well done by the investigation and prosecution team.

SAPS Newsroom

SOURCESouth African Police Service