Widow bust for claiming from RAF for husband who died after falling off a bridge
Image: 123RF/Olivier Le Moal
An Eastern Cape woman is facing fraud charges for allegedly submitting a false claim worth R700,000 to the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
Marlene Pietersen, 42, allegedly made the claim on behalf of her husband who died after falling off a bridge. The Hawks’ commercial crime investigation team arrested her on Tuesday.
Capt Yolisa Mgolodela, spokesperson for the directorate, said Pietersen claimed that her husband died in a car accident about seven years ago. She appeared in the Gqeberha New Law Court.
“On April 24 2018, Pietersen allegedly submitted a false Road Accident Fund claim on behalf of her husband, Niklaas Gallant, who died after falling off the bridge, claiming that he had died in a motor vehicle accident that occurred in Joubertina on July 7 2014,” said Mgolodela.
“The RAF discovered inconsistencies and then lodged a complaint with the Hawks which culminated in the arrest of Pietersen on October 5 2021. The RAF was rescued from a potential prejudice of R700,000. Pietersen was released on warning and was instructed to return to court today, October 6 2021.”
TimesLIVE