LIMPOPO – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation members are continuing to apprehend vehicle dealership fraudsters in Makhado. This follows the arrest of a 27-year-old suspected vehicle dealership fraudster in Gauteng Province on Saturday, 4 June 2022.

It is alleged that on 3 September 2021, the suspect visited one of the vehicle dealerships in Makhado and showed an interest in a Toyota Avanza valued at R460 019-52. It is further alleged that the suspect did not have necessary documents to attach when applying for vehicle finance loan however, the salesperson promised to assist in arranging the required documents at a cost of R5000-00.

After the application was approved by the WesBank, the vehicle was successfully delivered to the suspect. Shortly after, the bank conducted its audit and noticed that the payslip of the applicant was fraudulent. The case was opened and referred to the Hawks for further investigation. During the investigation, it was revealed that the suspect was actually unemployed.

The suspect is expected to make her first appearance in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court today, 06 June 2022 to face fraud charges.

This is the second case in a space of less than a month whereby the Hawks have arrested a suspect for allegedly defrauding vehicle dealerships. On 27 May 2022, Clement Mathelemusa (27) was arrested also for allegedly defrauding a vehicle dealership in Makhado through the assistance of a salesperson. Mathelemusa is currently out on R2 000-00 bail and his case was postponed to 22 July 2022 for further investigation.

Source: South African Police Service