Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority’s Assets Forfeiture Unit have been granted a preservation order to attach two vehicles, valued at over R518 000, that are linked to a Krugersdorp home affairs department fraud and corruption case.
Last year, an operation was conducted at the offices of the Department of Home Affairs in Krugersdorp after officials were implicated in issuing fraudulent passports to foreigners, using citizens’ details.
A fraud and corruption case was registered in March 2022.
Hawks spokesperson Lloyd Ramovha said the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg had ordered that two Toyota Fortuners remain attached pending the finalisation of the criminal case.
“South Africans from poor backgrounds were reportedly approached with cash offers to use their fingerprints to process the said passports. The recruitment [of] citizens was widespread across provinces,” he said.
“The syndicate, which comprises of mostly Somalian nationals and South Africans, was using the said vehicles belonging to an alleged kingpin to transport the recruits to the home affairs premises.”
Ramovha said payments had ranged between R5 000 and R10 000 for assistance with the processing and issuing of fraudulent documents.
The trial of the more than 20 accused continues.
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