A civil servant is currently under investigation after allegedly presenting fraudulent documents to Bunye Betfu Buhle Betfu Savings and Credit Cooperative, falsely claiming that her husband had died.
The female worker, who is a member of the SACCO, is alleged to have submitted the fake documents in an attempt to secure an insurance pay-out of E30 000 from Orchard Insurance. The incident occurred on October 3, in Mbabane.
The SACCO was originally registered by the commissioner of cooperatives under the Ministry of Agriculture, in accordance with the Co-operative Act of 1964. Despite being registered under this ministry, it draws its membership from employees across Eswatini’s public sector.
Sources said the SACCO’s leadership reported to the police that the member submitted documents purporting that her spouse had passed away, despite the fact that he is still alive.
The cooperative’s leadership reportedly raised the alarm after noticing irregularities in the paperwork and verifying that the man in question had not died.
The alleged fraud attempt was reported to authorities, and investigations are underway to determine how the false documents were obtained and whether other individuals may have been involved.
Orchard Insurance was also notified of the attempted claim. Sources said the member’s attempt to claim the money was unsuccessful.
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Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni, confirmed that the matter was reported to the police and that an investigation is underway. She said no arrest had been made yet.
This is not the first time that the SACCO is rocked by fraud claims.
In December last year, the cooperative was in the spotlight when police launched investigations into suspected fraudulent activities involving senior staff members.
At the time, law enforcement officers confiscated electronic devices belonging to some employees after the board raised concerns over alleged financial misconduct.
The probe was reportedly triggered by a disturbing incident involving the cooperative’s Information and Technology (IT) Manager, who was accused of defrauding the organisation.
The IT Manager allegedly took his own life shortly after suspicions about his role surfaced.
The police raid at the cooperative’s Mbabane branch took place only weeks after the suicide. According to insiders, the board had begun uncovering evidence suggesting that the IT Manager had not acted alone but had allegedly been working in concert with other staff members.
This revelation reportedly prompted the broader investigation that ensued.
Sources had claimed that the IT Manager appeared to suspect that investigators were closing in, hence he allegedly committed suicide.
The board is said to have initiated its own internal inquiries, which reportedly revealed something sinister happening in the SACCO, hence the involvement of the police.
