Branch
16 April 2007
The Commercial Branch of the South African Police Service (SAPS) forms part
of the Detective Service and comprises of various units and task teams
throughout the country, as well as a Serious Economic Offences unit.
The Commercial Branch can boast a number of significant successes and
achievements in the sphere of combating so-called 'white collar crime,' which
entails painstaking and thorough detective work.
Some of the commercial crime trends investigated by these skilled detectives
during February 2007 relate to vehicle finance fraud, internet banking fraud,
tax evasion, fraud involving the foreign transfer of funds and misappropriation
of investment or trust fund monies.
During February three significant cases of vehicle finance fraud, amounting
to a potential loss of R1,4 million, resulted in court appearances:
* On 7 February 2007 Mr Tebogo Ishmael Mokgothu (40) of Tweespruit was
arrested on six counts of fraud, totalling R762 000. Mokgothu applied for
vehicle finance for three vehicles in Bloemfontein and in the process allegedly
submitted false bank statements and a false driver's licence. He appeared in
the Bloemfontein Magistrate's court on fraud charges on 9 February, was granted
bail of R3 000 and will appear again on 2 May 2007.
* A 32 year old man from Mpumalanga, Mr Nelson Moyo Kaseke, was arrested on a
charge of fraud on 2 February 2007 after allegedly submitting false documents
with an application for vehicle finance to the amount of R356 000 at an auto
dealer in Sandton. He will make his second appearance in court on 26 April
2007.
* Mr Brian Dube (29 years of age) was convicted of fraud on 2 February 2007
after submitting a false identity document with his application for R320 000
for vehicle finance. Although the application was declined and no actual loss
was suffered, Dube was sentenced to a fine of R20 000 or three years
imprisonment.
At least three cases relating to tax evasion, amounting to just over R1
million, were also investigated and the accused brought before court:
* Ms Clara Poppy Dondolo (40 years) of Soweto was charged with fraud and
contravening the Income Tax Act after she had allegedly failed to pay tax
during the 2005 financial year. Dondolo, who is said to owe the South African
Revenue Service R200 000 in arrears tax, appeared in the Commercial Crime Court
in Johannesburg on 29 March 2007. The case was postponed for further
investigation.
* Mr Petrus Johannes Badenhorst (39 years) of Kimberley was also charged with
contravening the Income Tax Act for allegedly failing to pay over personal
income tax deducted from his employees. Between September 2005 and October
2006, Badenhorst allegedly deducted income tax totalling more than R250 000
from employees working at Diamond Recovery Equipment in Kimberley, but the tax
was not paid over to the South African Revenue Service. Badenhorst appeared in
court on 11 April 2007 and will make his second appearance on 18 April.
* On 27 February 2007, Mr Dumisani Gilbert Close (44 years) of Amanzimtoti was
charged with contravening the Income Tax Act, in that he allegedly failed to
pay personal income tax generated by his Durban-based business between 2002 and
2004 amounting to R553 000. Mr Close will make his next court appearance on 8
May 2007 when he will enter a plea.
In terms of internet banking fraud, on 20 February 2007, Ms Tuli Khubeka (35
years) of Soweto was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for committing fraud as
a member of a syndicate. The syndicate had been defrauding internet banking
users between 2004 and 2005, by transferring funds from internet banking
clients to accounts opened with false particulars and documentation as well as
to the accounts of legitimate account holders who were paid for the use of
their bank accounts. It is estimated that the syndicate stole approximately
R4,3 million in this manner.
An investment broker from Noordheuwel, Mr Arno Smit (42 years), was arrested
for theft of trust funds and fraud on 2 February 2007. The crimes were
allegedly committed in Vereeniging during 1999 when Smit allegedly
misappropriated funds of more than R2,3 million invested in the Usapho Trust by
five investors. He appeared in the Commercial Crime Court in Johannesburg and
was released on bail of R25 000. Complaints from another 600 investors are
being investigated in the Eastern Cape and the case was remanded for further
investigation.
"These cases are but the tip of the iceberg in terms of SAPS successes
against commercial crime and our detectives of the Commercial Branch are to be
congratulated on their dedication to service excellence," said National
Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
Enquiries:
Sally de Beer
Tel: (012) 393 1574
Fax: (012) 393 2165
Cell 082 779 8658
Issued by: South African Police Service
16 April 2007
Source: South African Police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za/)
