Fake hijackings uncovered after stripped Porsche discovery in Nirvana
The twist comes after the recent recovery of a stripped luxury Porsche Cayenne and a Toyota Tazz at a workshop in Nirvana, as reported by the Polokwane Review-Observer last week.
Read more: PHOTOS: Stripped Porsche recovered in Nirvana chop shop raid
The Porsche, reported hijacked in Zebediela in May, was found dismantled in a workshop in Nelson Mandela Drive on July 9, during a joint operation led by the Limpopo Tracking Team, Tracker Connect, and other private security partners.
The Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said further investigations revealed that the vehicle's owner, Paballo Masokameng (37), had allegedly faked the hijacking.
'The suspect claimed he was robbed by three unknown men after offering them a lift, a story now exposed as false. Masokameng is accused of removing and selling parts of the Porsche himself before arranging for it to be transported to the Nirvana workshop for full stripping,' Ledwaba's statement read.
He added that Masokameng was arrested and charged with fraud, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice and appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court yesterday.
He returns to court today for a formal bail.
In a connected case, Ledwaba said Emmanuel Boshomane (37), a TVET College lecturer, was also arrested for falsely reporting the hijacking of his Toyota Tazz, which was recovered at the same workshop.
Ledwaba said Boshomane was persuaded by Masokameng to stage the hijacking and hand over the vehicle, which was later resprayed and fitted with false number plates.
Boshomane was charged with fraud, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice. He was granted R500 bail on July 15, and is expected back in court on August 27.
'The workshop owner, Mustafar Hussain (49), a Tanzanian national, remains in custody. He is charged with possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles and is set to appear in court for a bail application tomorrow (July 16),' Ledwaba added.
The provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe, has condemned the misuse of police resources.
'We will uncover the truth, no matter how elaborate the scheme. Those who attempt to deceive the police or commit insurance fraud will be arrested and prosecuted,' she said.
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