Sibling ‘fraudsters’ arrested

Today the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has arrested two siblings for fraud at the Durban’s Emergency Medical and Rescue Service base.

The two were arrested by the Durban Central police after it was discovered that the one brother stole the identity of another and received a salary for five months. Last year; the department recruited and employed 322 Emergency Medical and Rescue Service (EMRS) personnel. After the selection process one of the two brothers was offered the job and had to start work on 1 September 2011.

It has been discovered that the siblings share the same initials and surname. When the one, who was successful, was to report for duty he instead sent his brother since he was already employed by a private ambulance service. Both brothers are qualified Basic Life Support officers. 

Following an internal verification process it was discovered that the one brother, who was working in the department, is not the successful candidate for the job. The South African Police Force arrested the two and are to appear in the Durban Magistrate court tomorrow.

The department will fully cooperate with the police investigations and should it be found that there are other accomplices, it is hoped that they will face the full might of the law.