Hawks Arrest Bloemfontein Businesswoman For Ters Fraud

The Hawks in Free State have arrested a 57-year-old Bloemfontein businesswoman for fraud and money laundering involving the Temporary Employee Relief Scheme TERS of the Department of Employment and Labour.

Marinda Smith was arrested for claiming from the scheme on behalf of 28 employees. She allegedly received an over R537 000 payout.

The Specialised Investigating Unit SIU discovered that none of the employees appearing on the application worked for her company.

Free State Hawks spokesperson Zweli Mohobeleli says Smith will be back in court in January after she was released on bail.

"The matter was handed over to the Hawks, culminating in a warrant for her arrest being authorised by the court. She appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on December 13 where she was released on R5 000 bail to appear in the regional court on January 27. The Free State head of the directorate for priority crime investigation, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba has applauded the Hawks and SIU collaboration which has led to this arrest."