Latest news with #DurbanSpecialisedCommercialCrimesCourt
The Citizen
2 days 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
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
3 police officers found guilty of soliciting a bribe
The KZN Serious Corruption Investigation component of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) secured a conviction in a high-profile corruption matter involving three police officials. The accused, Madoda Mduduzi Mhlongo (56), Siyabonga Herbert Mabhida (51) and Prince Ntsikelelo Shezi (50), who were attached to the Provincial Taxi Violence unit in Durban, were found guilty by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday. The trio was remanded in custody for sentencing on 19 June. ALSO READ: 3 cops charged for defeating the ends of Justice It was reported that on 13 March 2019, the victim was approached by the three police officials who alleged that they were under pressure from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to arrest two suspects for the murder of key witnesses in a case they were investigating. The officials solicited a bribe of R200 000 from the victim in lieu of preventing the arrests. The trio warned that failure to pay would result in the suspects being arrested that same night. Later that evening, the police officials arrived at one of the suspect's homes, reinforcing the threat. The matter was reported to the Serious Corruption Investigation component's head office. A police operation was authorised in terms of Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), and on 29 March 2019, the three implicated police officials, who were all warrant officers, were arrested after receiving the R200 000. The trio appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 1 April 2019 and were released on R10 000 bail each. Their trial commenced on 1 March 2021 and ran over an extended period until they were found guilty of corruption. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
