Passport fraud kingpin targeted in Hawks raid
DURBAN - Home Affairs' counter-corruption unit and the Hawks are conducting a raid on suspects behind the sale of fraudulent passports.
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The main target is a kingpin believed to be a foreign national.
Colonel Katlego Mogale stated that the operation is a joint initiative between the eerious corruption investigation and the department of Home Affairs.
So far, 38 people have been arrested, and some of them have already been convicted. On Saturday morning, another operation was launched, resulting in the arrest of four more individuals.
Authorities also confiscated 226 passports along with other documents belonging to the department of Home Affairs.
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The Herald
15 hours ago
- The Herald
Hawks arrest five suspects in Durban in connection with fraudulent passport syndicate
Five people were arrested in Durban on Saturday in connection with a fraudulent passport syndicate involving home affairs employees, foreign nationals and a group of locals. Hawks national spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale said the Hawks' serious corruption investigation component had secured a number of arrest warrants which were executed in Durban on Saturday. 'The execution operation emanates from a complaint from the department of home affairs (DHA) relating to the issuance of fraudulent passports to undocumented foreign nationals. 'The allegations of serious offences include corruption, fraud and contraventions of the Identification Act and Immigration Act that took place between February 2020 and July 2023. A group of South African citizens allegedly facilitated the fraudulent acquisition of South African passports by foreign nationals at DHA offices in Durban, specifically the Commercial Street branch. These unlawful activities took place outside regular business hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays when the DHA offices were officially closed.' He said preliminary investigations by the DHA confirmed the criminal activities where locals were offered R300 to R1,000 in exchange for their co-operation at DHA offices in Isipingo, Durban Central and Eshowe. The five suspects arrested in various parts of Durban will face charges of corruption, fraud, contravention of the Immigration Act and contravention of the Identification Act. They will appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Durban on Tuesday, he said. Seven DHA officials and 31 others have been arrested between September 2022 to date in connection with this syndicate. Of these, 24 — including four DHA officials — have been convicted and sentenced to a combined sentence of 310 years' imprisonment. TimesLIVE
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Five arrested in Durban for providing foreigners with fraudulent passports
The five will appear before the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday. Five people have been arrested in Durban by the Serious Corruption Investigation on Saturday in connection with the issuing of fake passports. They are facing charges of corruption, fraud, contravention of the Immigration Act, and contravention of the Identification Act. The arrests stem from a complaint from the Department of Home Affairs relating to the issuance of fraudulent passports to undocumented foreign nationals. Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Colonel Katlego Mogale stated that several arrest warrants have been secured and are being executed in relation to the complaint. Fraudulent passports She stated that the offences occurred between February 2020 and July 2023. 'A group of South African citizens allegedly facilitated the fraudulent acquisition of South African passports by foreign nationals at DHA offices in Durban, specifically the Commercial Street branch.' These unlawful activities occurred outside regular business hours, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays, when the Department of Home Affairs offices were officially closed. 'Preliminary investigations by the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the criminal activities were indeed conducted off-hours, where local citizens offered R300 to R1,000 in exchange for their cooperation, especially at Department of Home Affairs offices in Isipingo, Durban Central, and Eshowe, resulting in a case being opened for investigation by the Serious Corruption Investigation.' ALSO READ: Home Affairs deports more than 46 000 illegal immigrants in past year How many are involved in passport scheme Mogale added that they have arrested 38 people between September 2022 to date. Out of the 38, seven are department officials, and 31 are private citizens. 24 individuals have been convicted and sentenced to a combined term of 310 years' imprisonment, of which four are department officials. The five people arrested on Saturday are scheduled to appear before the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday. 'The DPCI is not ruling out the possibility of more suspects being arrested.' EFF calls for treason charges The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has previously called for Home Affairs officials implicated in corruption to be charged with treason. The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs received briefings on several issues, including the Legal Aid Board's criteria for representing undocumented foreign nationals and a collaborative effort between Home Affairs and the Department of Social Development to support undocumented foreign minors. Home Affairs Deputy Director-General for Counter Corruption and Security, Conny Moitse, revealed a growing number of cases under investigation by the department. According to Moitse, at least 805 cases have been investigated over the past three financial years. NOW READ: 27 Home Affairs officials dismissed for fraud and corruption since July 2024
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
Hawks arrest five suspects in Durban in connection with fraudulent passport syndicate
Five people were arrested in Durban on Saturday in connection with a fraudulent passport syndicate involving home affairs employees, foreign nationals and a group of locals. Hawks national spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale said the Hawks' serious corruption investigation component had secured a number of arrest warrants which were executed in Durban on Saturday. 'The execution operation emanates from a complaint from the department of home affairs (DHA) relating to the issuance of fraudulent passports to undocumented foreign nationals. 'The allegations of serious offences include corruption, fraud and contraventions of the Identification Act and Immigration Act that took place between February 2020 and July 2023. A group of South African citizens allegedly facilitated the fraudulent acquisition of South African passports by foreign nationals at DHA offices in Durban, specifically the Commercial Street branch. These unlawful activities took place outside regular business hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays when the DHA offices were officially closed.' He said preliminary investigations by the DHA confirmed the criminal activities where locals were offered R300 to R1,000 in exchange for their co-operation at DHA offices in Isipingo, Durban Central and Eshowe. The five suspects arrested in various parts of Durban will face charges of corruption, fraud, contravention of the Immigration Act and contravention of the Identification Act. They will appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Durban on Tuesday, he said. Seven DHA officials and 31 others have been arrested between September 2022 to date in connection with this syndicate. Of these, 24 — including four DHA officials — have been convicted and sentenced to a combined sentence of 310 years' imprisonment.
