BLUE EARTH COUNTY, Minn. (KTTC) – Officials from the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office have identified a person wanted in connection with alleged fraudulent activity at several banks, including in Rochester.
On Monday, Sheriff Paul Barta released an update saying through tips from the public, the office has a person of interest who is not believed to be local.
Efforts to confirm the identity and the investigation are ongoing at this time.
Investigators say between May 7 and 13, someone used other people’s personal information to withdraw money from existing home equity lines of credit.
In addition to Rochester, the suspect allegedly hit other banks in Waldorf, St. Peter, Eagle Lake and Hutchinson.
Authorities say the total loss is estimated to be more than $30,000.
Find stories like this and more, in our apps.
Copyright 2026 KTTC. All rights reserved.
THE ISUZU MOTORS PAYROLL FRAUD (GQEBERHA, SA)
Date: February 16, 2026 Perpetrator: Natasja Slabbert (42)
Case Description: In a case that hit home for the Eastern Cape business community, Natasja Slabbert, a payroll administrator at Isuzu Motors South Africa’s Struandale plant, was arrested for an alleged R10.5 million fraud. The scheme, which began surfacing in late 2024, exploited the very systems designed to manage employee compensation. Slabbert allegedly manipulated payroll records to create false entries that appeared as legitimate deductions and contributions on employee payslips. In reality, these “deductions” were being diverted into her personal bank account.
The fraud was only uncovered after diligent employees noticed that their net “take-home” pay was significantly lower than expected, despite the gross amounts on their payslips remaining high. Following a thorough probe by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team and the NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, it was discovered that in August 2024 alone, over R626,000 was unlawfully transferred. Slabbert was granted bail of R5,000 on February 17, 2026, and the case has been postponed to later in the month for further legal proceedings. This case highlights the critical need for “segregation of duties” in payroll departments, as a single point of failure allowed for the systematic siphoning of millions over nearly two years.
Link to Original: PE Express – Isuzu Payroll Fraud