Four suspects were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, with the assistance of the community, for allegedly defrauding members of the community in Kuruman.
FOUR suspects were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, with the assistance of the community, for allegedly defrauding members of the community in Kuruman.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Tebogo Thebe said that the suspects, who are aged between 32 and 39 years old, operated a company between July and August this year where they approached retired persons or those who had lost their jobs at the local mines.
“They promised to assist them to fast-track their claims from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or pension payouts for an upfront fee of R1,300. It is further alleged that they deducted 30 percent of the payout from the claim once it had been finalised for those who could not afford the prescribed upfront fee,” said Thebe.
He added that the matter was reported to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
“While the investigation was still under way, members of the community brought the suspects to the Hawks office on Friday, August 26 and they were arrested based on available evidence and for allegedly operating an unregistered and fraudulent company.”
Thebe said that the suspects are expected to appear before the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
