POLOKWANE: The members of the Provincial Tracking Team have arrested a 37-year-old suspect who committed fraud worth thousands of rands at Mahlesedi Park outside Polokwane on Friday 30 December 2022.

Reportedly on Friday 23 December 2022, the suspect allegedly approached a female victim who is an employee at the Department of Arts and Culture and told her that he was having money amounting to R2.5 million which was stained with a black dye.

The suspect asked the victim to give him R200.000 in cash to purchase a special substance or chemical to wash away the black dye which was demonstrated to her with authentic money and was assured to be paid R400,000 in return.

Afterwards, the victim made a withdrawal of R200,000 and gave it to the suspect with the hope to acquire more money. The suspect left the victim with another fraudulent money which was put inside the safe to assure that he will come back to pay back the money as agreed.

The victim started to be suspicious about the arrangement and reported the matter to the police who immediately commenced with the investigations.

Yesterday on Friday 30 December 2022, the suspect called the victim and requested another R400,000 in cash and she agreed to give him the money in collaboration with the police.

An intelligence driven operation was executed and the suspect was subsequently arrested at his rental residence in Mahlasedi Park after receiving the money from the victim on the said day.

During his arrest, the suspect was found in possession of counterfeit black money with substances or chemicals alleged to wash away the black dye stains including the remaining R161,000 in cash which belonged to the victim.

Further police investigations revealed that the suspect was in the country illegally and an additional charge of Contravention of Immigration Act was also included at the time of his arrest.

The suspect will appear before the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court soon facing charges of fraud, illegal immigration and possession of counterfeit money.

"I appreciate the immediate response by the men and women in blue for the immediate apprehension of the suspect which could have escalated to other unsuspecting victims across the province. I hope that justice could prevail in order to remove these type of individuals from the society" said the Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.

Source: South African Police Service