RDP houses tender: Suspects held for fraud and extortion, Rustenburg

South African Police Service

RDP houses tender: Suspects held for fraud and extortion, Rustenburg
RDP houses tender: Suspects held for fraud and extortion, Rustenburg

The Provincial Anti Corruption Investigation Unit arrested two suspects, both aged 32 on Tuesday, 12 March 2019, at Waterfall Mall, Rustenburg for fraud and extortion.

The suspects were arrested after the police made a follow up on information from a businessman about a suspected fraud activity in Rustenburg. That was after one of the suspects, who pretended to be the Head of provincial Department of Local Government and Human Settlement, called the businessman and informed him that the department is intending to build RDP houses in Rustenburg.

The suspect and his accomplice arranged a meeting wherein they allegedly demanded R5 million from the businessman in exchange for a tender. The suspects further demanded an upfront payment of R50 000,00 which the businessman agreed to pay a few days later.

The matter was reported to the police, who planned and executed an operation in which the suspects were arrested at Waterfall Mall. The suspects were found in possession of Universal USB’s, four cellular phones and documents with the letterhead of the Department of Local Government and Human Settlement. The suspect’s vehicle, a green and white Ford Mustang, was seized during the arrest.

The duo is expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court soon.

The police would like to urge anyone who might have been defrauded in the same way by unknown suspect/s, to call Captain Thebeyagae Molatlhegi at 0714812432.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service