Tebogo Msimanga |
The members of the Provincial Tracking Team arrested a 37-year-old foreign male suspect who committed fraud worth thousands of rands at Mahlesedi Park outside Polokwane on Friday 30 December 2022.
A Ugandan National allegedly approached a female victim who is an employee at the Department of Arts and Culture and told her that he was having money amounting to R2.5 million which was stained with a black dye.
Limpopo Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspect asked the victim to give him R200.000 in cash to purchase a special substance or chemical to wash away the black dye which was demonstrated to her with authentic money and was assured to be paid R400.000 in return.
“Afterwards, the victim made a withdrawal of R200.000 and gave it to the suspect with the hope to acquire more money. The suspect left the victim with another fraudulent money which was put inside the safe to assure that he will come back to pay back the money as agreed”.
Ledwaba further said the victim started to be suspicious about the arrangement and reported the matter to the police who immediately started the investigations. “On Friday 30 December 2022, the suspect called the victim and requested another R400.000 in cash and she agreed to give him the money in collaboration with the police”.
An intelligence-driven operation was executed and the suspect was subsequently arrested at his rental residence in Mahlasedi Park after receiving the money from the victim on the said day.
The suspect will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate court soon facing charges of fraud, illegal immigration and possession of counterfeit money.
