While stolen jewellery might be a worthwhile conversation topic, it has long since lost its eye-widening appeal. But when a simple polygraph test reveals that said jewellery had been sold for almost a hundredth of its actual value, it's hard not to gawp in disbelief.

The case in question, published on Pretoria-based CSI Africa's Facebook page, tells of an employee who stole R750,000 worth of jewellery from an employer, only to sell it for R9,000. According to CSI Africa CEO Amelia Griesel, cases like these are cropping up more frequently.

"Earlier this year we also had a case involving a client who experienced huge stock losses. Since he wasn't quite sure where the problem was, he requested a polygraph test for each of his two employees. During the test both employees confessed to stealing small quantities of stock on a daily basis and selling it on for R50. Of course the real eye opener was that the client lost R180,000 worth of stock per month as a result."

A recent opening of a CSI Africa branch in the Free State town of Bethlehem is testimony to the growing need for private forensic investigative services required by businesses throughout South Africa. A training course featuring an all-star panel of international polygraph experts as instructors is also on the cards later this year.

"Commercial crime is a growing problem locally, especially as the rand weakens and prices continue to soar. So we're currently creating an opportunity which will give businesses the means to internalise polygraph testing with the aim of using it as a crime deterrent and an investigative tool," said Griesel.

Polygraph testing is increasingly used as a pre-employment screening tool to detect anything from falsified qualifications and references to substance abuse and previous offences for which there are no criminal records. Used in-office or on-site on a periodic basis, the polygraph test also helps to keep employees on the straight and narrow.

Despite its critics, who dispute the accuracy of lie detection and who claim that there is no scientific basis for proving innocence or guilt, polygraph testing as an investigative tool continues to deliver results, but with a rather surprising twist.

Said Griesel: "In a rather large percentage of cases those individuals guilty of a crime tend to confess. Sometimes we never get to the actual test, with admissions of guilt being made during the pre-test interview."

"But there are times when going through the entire process is a must," Griesel continues, referring to another case in which they helped recover R22,000 of R30,000 stolen by employees. Then, of course, there are times when stolen items - of which the sentimental value may exceed its weight in gold - are sadly lost forever.

For more information contact

Amelia Griesel
Tel: 0861 274 911
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.csinvestigate.co.za