NEWS IN BRIEF

SPRINGBOK Two suspects appeared in the Springbok Magistrates’ Court after the Hawks expanded its investigation into fraudulent travel claims by members of the SAPS estimated at approximately R3.4 million.

The case against Captain Susan Esstel van der Byl, 45, and former administration clerk, Nuriel Felicia De Jongh, 31 was postponed to February 2018 following their arrest on Thursday on charges fraud, money laundering and theft.

The duo have allegedly been linked to Siyabonga Mangqishi,

36, a finance administration clerk from Springbok SAPS who was arrested in January for allegedly submitting fictitious financial applications varying from cash advances claims to accommodation costs using personal details of fellow colleagues.

The fraudulent transactions date back to 2014 until January this year. Yesterday’s proceedings saw the two co-accused’s case joined to Mangqishi’s before the matter was postponed to February 4 in Springbok.

PROVINCE Three men were arrested on charges of murder and possession of an illegal firearm during separate crime prevention operations over the weekend.

In one incident, a 37-year-old man was arrested near the Pampierstad taxi rank after police found an unlicensed firearm in his possession.

Police spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, said the the man was arrested during a crime prevention operation.

“The arrest came after the police spotted a suspicious looking suspect walking near Pampierstad taxi rank.

“The suspect was stopped and searched and he was found in possession of unlicensed