Ex-Hawk’s fraud trial continues in March

The six-year-long trial of former Hawks colonel Hyron Booysen on a fraud charge of nearly R11,000 resumes on March 20.

Booysen appeared in court on Tuesday for his case, which dates back to November 2013, when he was first accused of defrauding the Hawks.

He was arrested for allegedly submitting false travel claims while he was with the Hawks’ organised crime unit in Port Elizabeth.

According to the charge sheet, Booysen was tasked with investigating a case in Zwelitsha and he indicated that he needed to travel to Cape Town during December 2013 as part of his investigation.

“The accused had to file an itinerary for any official journey he wanted to undertake where state expenditure was involved. The accused filed such itinerary and indicated in the itinerary that he would travel from Port Elizabeth on December 7 2013 to Cape Town where he would meet with Colonel Marco van der Hammen and collect disputed documents on the Zwelitsha case.

“The accused would then travel from Cape Town to East London on December 10 2013 and from East London to Mthatha on December 11 2013.

“The Mthatha leg of the trip was later cancelled due to the death of Mr Nelson Mandela.”

The charge sheet states that Van der Hammen, a colonel in the SAPS attached to the forensic science laboratory in Durstaff ban, had no consultations or planned meetings with the accused between December 7 and 10 2013 in Cape Town.

“The accused submitted a claim for subsistence and transport expenses on December 12 2013 for his daily allowance amounting to R424,70 and for accommodation and meals amounting to R3,188.

“The total amount for the claim was R3,612.70.”

The charge sheet, compiled by advocate Elna Smit, reads that Booysen was on a post level 12 and was therefore part of the SAPS vehicle scheme for senior and middle management.

“Due to this the accused was entitled to claim for his official kilometres travelled with his private vehicle during December 2013.

“The accused claimed he had travelled 2,910km at a rate of R3.76.

“The total amount claimed was R10,941.60,” the charge sheet reads.

Smit said Booysen had lied and made misrepresentations on his claims.

East London regional magistrate Ignatius Kitching set the matter down for March 20 for the defence to prepare for cross examination.

Booysen lied and made misrepresentations on his claims