Former cop in court for attempting to steal R1.2m

Polokwane - A former crime intelligence officer and a woman appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate's Court on Monday after they allegedly attempted to steal more than R1.2m from a businesswoman's bank account.

Limpopo police said Jack Mathiba, 40, and Doreen Thamaga, 28, were arrested on Saturday after they, along with an unknown man, approached a Nedbank manager with the aim of transferring money into other accounts.

"The lady accomplice was in possession of the account-holder's fake identity document, claiming that she had signing powers," police spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

"The manager contacted the account-holder who informed him that it was a fraudulent transaction."

The police were called and the two were arrested. The unknown man escaped.

Mulaudzi said Mathiba and Thamaga were facing fraud charges.

They remained in custody and would appear for a bail application on Friday.