The Hawks in the Free State have moved to shut down a criminal network that unlawfully and fraudulently created payslips and proof of payments depriving the banks more than R6.6 million.
Six suspects aged between 47 and 31 were arrested on 121 counts including, fraud, forgery, uttering, money laundering and gang related activities.
The arrests emanates from an investigation that began in 2017 by the Free State Serious Corruption Investigations where the suspects are alleged to have created payslips and proof of employments, and further applied for financing of luxury vehicles as well as credit facilities. Once the loans were approved the suspects allegedly disappear. They amassed over R6.6 million in their illegal dealings with one of the leading banks in the country.
The transaction were facilitated by the bank’s employee who understandably has since been dismissed. Six vehicles including BMW 220i, BMW 320d, BMW Xdrive, two VW Golf GTI and a Mercedes Benz coupe have been bought by the suspects amounting to excess of R5 million and an estimate R 800 000 was acquired through loans.
Glen Ceaser (31), Veronica Crouch (30), Jolene Crouch (35), Chillerboy Floyd Buys (37), Simon Cornelius Botha (46) and Mosa Harington Tseleli (36) appeared briefly at the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on 10 February 2020.
All suspects were granted R2000 bail with strict bail conditions. They are expected back at the same court on 2 March 2020. Warrants of arrest have been issued for the other outstanding suspects as they failed to appear in court.
A lifestyle audit of the suspects will be conducted with the assistance of the Asset Forfeiture unit. Three other suspects are still being sought.
The National Head of the DPCI Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has commended the arrest of the suspects linked to the unlawful and fraudulent scams.
“I have directed that the team should without fail arrest the remaining or better they should hand themselves over to the investigating team. We will also be working our utmost best and hardest in ensuring there is sufficient traction to recoup that was stolen from the bank,” said Lieutenant General Lebeya.
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