CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A South Carolina businessman pleaded guilty in federal court in Massachusetts to misusing COVID funds.
David Breen, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property and misappropriation of COVID-19 funds for personal use.
The U.S. Department of Justice said he spent more than $1.2 million in Economic Injury and Disaster Loan funds that he obtained from the U.S. Small Business Administration to build a home and purchase motor vehicles. The SBA provided loans to small businesses that suffered economic injury because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He applied for Economic Injury and Disaster Loan funds in March 2022 on behalf of “Fun Zone,” an entity through which he operated “Pinz,” a bowling alley and entertainment venue in Milford, Massachusetts. Breen entered into a loan agreement with the SBA in which he agreed to use the loan proceeds as working…
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