One of the accused gave a merchant instructions to carry cosmetics to her home rather than the drugstore during the Covid-19 lockdown. Following allegations that they had cheated and stolen from their employer, two female cashiers at a pharmacy in Welkom, the Free State, are being charged with fraud and theft.
On April 29, the women, who are 33 and 45 years old, are scheduled to appear in the Welkom magistrate’s court. Between February 2015 and June 2020, the pair reportedly stole cash and cosmetics while defrauding the pharmacy.
According to police spokeswoman Lt-Col Zweli Mohobeleli, their manager became suspicious of shortages and opened an investigation.
“After the customer left, he found that both cashiers were continuing to sell things and perform fraudulent voids. This gave the impression that the item was still in the store and that the transaction was illegitimate, even though the consumer had already paid for it and left with it. The money would then be pocketed by them,” he stated.
The fraudulent transactions caused the pharmacy to lose R270,000.
Further inquiry, according to Mohobeleli, showed that cosmetics obtained from a merchant were not entered into the system or placed on the shelves.
It was also later verified that one of the suspects had given the merchant instructions to carry cosmetics to her home rather than the drugstore during the Covid-19 lockdown.
“The pharmacy never received these items. The case was brought before the National Prosecuting Authority by the Welkom Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, which gathered evidence and made a strong case. According to Mohobeleli, summonses were issued by the court and served on March 25 and 26, respectively.
He claimed the individuals had been taken into custody in Johannesburg and Welkom.
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