Two suspects were arrested for theft under false pretence in Kuruman after allegedly defrauding a victim of R350,000.
TWO SUSPECTS were arrested for theft under false pretence in Kuruman after allegedly defrauding a victim of R350,000 with promises that they would grow the money.
The arrests were made by the Kuruman-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, together with Kuruman Public Order Policing, the K9 unit and the Local Criminal Record Centre.
The spokesperson for the Hawks in the Northern Cape, Captain Tebogo Thebe, said the two suspects, who are aged 22 and 49, were nabbed on Monday after a multi-disciplinary operation related to money scams in the district.
Thebe explained that it is alleged that the duo worked with a traditional healer to defraud the victim.
“The victim was promised that his money would be multiplied. He was shown huge amounts of false money by the suspects and was made to believe his money could multiply too,” said Thebe.
“The victim sold his car and resigned from work to access the money and handed it to the traditional healer.”
Thebe said the main suspect, the traditional healer, is still at large and the police are after him.
“The police confiscated cellphones, a vehicle and papers that were used to make fake notes, as part of the evidence.”
The suspects are expected to appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The head of the Hawks in the Northern Cape, Major-General Kholekile Galawe, cautioned communities in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District to be vigilant with their money due to a spate of scams in the district, especially with the festive season fast approaching.
