Latest news with #Secunda-based
IOL News
22-07-2025
- IOL News
Man used fake documents to buy R500,000 Toyota Fortuner and vanished for five years
The Hawks tracked Mthobisi Shezi and arrested him in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday, after he allegedly defrauded a financial institution in 2020. Image: Hawks/IOL A 29-year-old man, Mthobisi Shezi, appeared before the Delmas District Court in Mpumalanga on Monday after allegedly purchasing a Toyota Fortuner sport utility vehicle (SUV) using fraudulent documents. On Saturday, the Hawks' Secunda-based serious corruption investigation team and the serious commercial crime investigation unit arrested Shezi in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal. 'The suspect allegedly purchased a Toyota Fortuner on credit by submitting fraudulent bank statements and fraudulent payslips to the finance institution in Delmas,' said Mpumalanga provincial Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi. Shezi allegedly received the popular SUV, worth R455,900, in October 2020. 'Ever since the vehicle was driven out of the dealership, not a single installment has been paid in the past five years,' said Nkosi. The financial institution turned to the Hawks for investigation, and a thorough investigation led the team to Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal, where Shezi was arrested on Saturday. The Hawks tracked Mthobisi Shezi and arrested him in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday, after he allegedly defrauded a financial institution in 2020 Image: Hawks Meanwhile, provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber has welcomed Shezi's arrest, and commended the investigating teams for their thorough efforts in tracking down the wanted man. Last year, IOL reported that the Middleburg Magistrate's Court convicted and sentenced Jacob Aphane for vehicle fraud after he used fake documents to purchase a Suzuki Ertiga, and did not pay the monthly instalments. The conviction and sentence came after Aphane was charged with vehicle finance fraud to the value of R496,211. 'It was reported that on October 7, 2022, the accused applied for vehicle finance at Yagos 4 Wheel Cars in Middelburg, using fraudulent documents, a payslip and a bank statement. He alleged that he was employed at GT Auto Company in Marblehall. Wesbank approved the finance application based on the fraudulent documents presented,' Lieutenant Colonel Sekgotodi Dineo said at the time. After the approval, Aphane collected the vehicle, a Suzuki Ertiga. Jacob Aphane was sentenced after he used fraudulent documents to purchase a Suzuki Ertiga. Image: File Picture However, Aphane did not pay the monthly instalments for more than three months. 'The bank tried to locate him, but he was not found. The matter was reported to the Hawks' Middelburg-based serious commercial crime investigation for further probe. During the investigation, it was established that the company (which Aphane claimed to work for) does not exist,' said Sekgotodi. [email protected] IOL News
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- The Citizen
Hawks arrest two more in Charl Cilliers or selling expired food
Hawks arrest two more in Charl Cilliers or selling expired food CHARL CILLIERS – Mark Lombard (29) and Sonnet Lombard (46) were arrested on July 1 by the Hawks' Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team. The arrests were carried out with the assistance of the Tactical Response Team, Secunda K9 Unit, Charl Cilliers Police and the Secunda Local Criminal Record Centre. The duo joined their family member, Pieter Grobler (41), who was arrested on February 5 for allegedly repackaging and selling expired and rotten food to members of the public. The trio reportedly operated from a farm near Charl Cilliers. Grobler was released on R8 000 bail, while the Lombards were released following a brief appearance in the Secunda Magistrate's Court on July 1. ALSO CHECK: eMbalenhle Chris Hani section RDP housing project turns into a nightmare for residents The Lombards are accused of conspiring with Grobler to commit fraud and money laundering. All three are expected to appear in court together on August 1. During Grobler's arrest in February, several items were seized at the scene, including a truck, two light delivery vehicles, seven refrigerators and other goods, which are now part of an ongoing investigation. Brigadier Danie Hall, the Acting Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, praised the investigative and support teams for their efforts in apprehending the additional suspects. 'We, as the Hawks, will do our best to protect the community from falling prey to this inhumane act,' said Brigadier Hall. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- The Citizen
Man caught for impersonating a lawyer in Bethal, must pay back the money
Man caught for impersonating a lawyer in Bethal, must pay back the money A bogus lawyer was instructed yesterday (June 5) to pay back R40 000 that he took from a client in Bethal in 2019. Doctor Sobetha (32) who impersonated a lawyer trying to conduct a bail application for his client charged with murder, pleaded guilty in the Bethal Magistrate's Court. was sentenced to four years imprisonment with an option to pay R20 000 fine. Two of the four years were was suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offense. The Mpumalanga spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Lieutenant-Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, said the court further ordered Sobetha to pay back R40 000 that was unlawfully received from his client. He is expected to pay back the money in monthly instalments of R3 000 until the last cent is paid up. Sobetha was caught out in 2019 when the state prosecutor in the high-profile murder case picked up from his arguments that something was off. Sobetha could not provide proof when asked before court if he was indeed a legal practitioner. The Secunda based Serious Organised Crime Investigation members who were in court for the pending murder case, arrested Sobetha. The matter was referred to the Hawks Secunda-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further investigation. Sobetha fled when he was granted bail in 2024. 'Investigation led members of the Hawks' Tactical Operations Management System (TOMS) to Durban, where Sobetha was arrested on May 22. 'He was brought back to Mpumalanga, where he appeared before Bethal Magistrate's Court on May 30,' said Nkosi. The case was postponed to yesterday. Nkosi said immediately after his sentence was handed down, Sobetha was rearrested for fraud committed in Moroka, Gauteng, in 2023. The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Nico Gerber warned people to consult with registered legal advisors. 'It is concerning if people are defrauded by people like Sobetha whose formal education does not even go beyond high school level,' concluded the General. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- The Citizen
Fake lawyer sentenced in Bethal court, immediately rearrested for fraud
The Bethal Magistrate's Court sentenced a man to four years' imprisonment or a fine of R20 000 for impersonating a lawyer in court. Ironically, while Doctor Sobetha (32) was still in court after being sentenced yesterday, June 5, he was arrested again for fraud that he allegedly committed in Moroka, Gauteng, in 2023. Following his sentence, the court ordered Sobetha to pay back the money amounting to R40 000 that he had charged his client in 2019, payable in instalments of R3 000 per month. The client was facing a murder charge and Sobetha represented him during his bail application. The state prosecutor could pick up from Sobetha's arguments that something was not adding up. He was requested to provide proof in court that he was indeed a legal practitioner but failed to do so,' said the Mpumalanga Hawks' spokesperson, Colonel Magonseni Nkosi. Nkosi said the Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation members that were in court immediately arrested him after which the matter was referred to the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further inquiry. He said Sobetha was granted bail in 2024 and absconded, resulting in a warrant of arrest being authorised against him. 'An investigation led members of the Hawks' Tactical Operations Management System to Durban, where the suspect was arrested on May 22 this year,' said Nkosi. ALSO READ: Skukuza Regional Court sentences poacher to 14 years in jail He was brought back to Mpumalanga, where he appeared before the Bethal Magistrate's Court on Friday, May 30. The matter was postponed and Sobethu was remanded in custody until he appeared in the same court again yesterday. He pleaded guilty and the court sentenced immediately. Two of his four-year sentence was suspended for five years on the condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence during that period. The Mpumalanga head of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber, warned people to consult with registered legal advisers. 'It is concerning if people are defrauded by people like Sobetha whose formal education does not even go beyond high school level,' concluded Gerber. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- The Citizen
Bogus lawyer ordered to pay back murder accused client's R40k
The fake lawyer was rearrested after his sentencing for another fraud case in Gauteng. A 32-year-old man has been ordered to pay back money he received unlawfully from a client while posing as a lawyer back in 2019. On Thursday, the Bethal Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga instructed Doctor Sobetha to pay back R40 000 he received from a client that he tried to conduct a bail application for. Four-year sentence Sobetha has been ordered to pay the client – who was charged with murder – R3 000 in monthly instalments until the last cent is paid up. According to the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks), the order to pay back the money was made in addition to a sentence of four years behind bars, with the option to pay a R20 000 fine. This was after the bogus lawyer pleaded guilty to the charges. 'Two years of his four-year imprisonment were suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence,' Hawks regional spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said. Sobetha arrested in court The bogus lawyer was arrested after a state prosecutor found fault in his arguments during court proceedings. Sobetha was then asked to prove that he was a legal practitioner before the court, but failed to do so. ALSO READ: Bogus doctor bust in Havenside sting operation He was arrested by members of the Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime investigation unit who were in attendance. Hawks nab bogus lawyer in KZN 'The matter was referred to the Hawks Secunda-based Serious Commercial Crime investigation unit for further investigation. The suspect, Sobetha, was granted bail in 2024 and never set foot in court again,' Nkosi said. 'Investigation led members of the Hawks' tactical operations management system to Durban, where the suspect was arrested on 22 May 2025.' Sobetha was brought back to Mpumalanga, where he first appeared in the Bethal Magistrate's Court on 30 May. Sobetha rearrested after sentencing He was rearrested immediately after sentencing on Thursday for a fraud case in Moroka, Gauteng, dating back to 2023. He is now in police custody in Gauteng. Hawks provincial head Major General Nico Gerber warned people to only consult with registered legal advisers. 'It is concerning if people are defrauded by people like Sobetha whose formal education does not even go beyond high school level,' Gerber said. NOW READ: Hawks investigating Peet and Melany Viljoen for fraud with Tammy Taylor franchises
