Vehicle registration fraud suspect to appear in court
POLOKWANE – An intelligence-driven operation between the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team and Road Traffic Management Corporation resulted in the arrest of a 53-year-old suspect for fraud and corruption in Johannesburg Central on Wednesday, 26 February 2020.
The suspect was arrested at his registration plates printing workshop for allegedly issuing fraudulent vehicle registration certificates, license discs and registration plates. During the operation, the team seized cellphones, documents and a laptop.
Between 2017 and 2019 there have been a number of stolen vehicles particularly Ford Rangers, Toyota Fortuners and Amaroks that were intercepted from being smuggled from South Africa into Zimbabwe.
The Hawks investigation established that there was a vehicle theft syndicate smuggling out stolen vehicles. Through intensive intelligence-driven investigation, more than 60 accused persons believed to be part of the syndicate were arrested. The accused are out on bail and their cases are still being heard at the Musina Magistrate Court on different dates.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27 February 2020 to face corruption, fraud, forgery and uttering charges.
