KAROO NEWS - Cradock Commercial Task Team commander, Warrant Officer Wessel Potgieter and a group of forensic investigators, have clamped down on a fraud syndicate operating between Beaufort West and Middelburg.

During the raid on Wednesday 4 March, about 55 credit cards to the value of about R1,7-million were found in their possession.

Initially, four Pakistani nationals were arrested in Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg, but with their first court appearance on 5 March, the case against one of them was withdrawn. The other three, Shehzad Akmal (35), Muhammed Moosa (39) and Saver Iqbul (47) applied for bail on Wednesday 11 March. The outcome of the bail application was not known when going to press.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, said the syndicate allegedly used a bank in Middelburg to execute their activities.

"It is alleged that the four recruited unemployed people in Beaufort West, with a promise of employment in Graaff-Reinet. They were transported in groups of five and kept at a house in Graaff-Reinet," said Kinana.

"The unemployed were then taken to the Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality in Graaff-Reinet to get an address confirmation, and were supplied with three months' falsified pay slips. The suspects then ordered them to open a credit card account of up to R35 000. The money was then allegedly withdrawn by the syndicate."

According to Kinana, more arrests are imminent.

Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga, commended the members for tracing and arresting the suspects. She also commended the partnership between SAPS and forensic task team of the banking institution. 

"The relentless efforts by the task teams in tracing and arresting the suspects are impressive. It will send a strong message to those involved in organised crime that we mean business and it is only a matter of time before we catch up with their criminal activities," said Ntshinga.

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