On August 13, 2026, Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald issued the first enforcement priorities memorandum for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) new National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division).1 The memorandum establishes five priority enforcement areas for what the DOJ describes as the first division in Department history dedicated solely to detecting, investigating, and prosecuting fraud against the United States and its citizens. With an estimated $233 to $521 billion in annual federal fraud losses at stake, the Division represents a fundamental restructuring of how the federal government pursues fraud—and companies across industries should take notice.
This alert discusses:
- The DOJ’s announcement and the Fraud Division’s structure;
- The five stated enforcement priority areas;
- Why this matters for companies, government contractors, and regulated entities; and
- Key…
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