Aliwal North: The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Crime Investigation, in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), has successfully secured a conviction against Christopher Andrew Joe, aged 44, for defrauding the South African Police Service (SAPS) of more than R160,000.

According to South African Police Service, in 2023, a SAPS Ford Ranger broke down in Aliwal North and was sent for repairs through WesBank. The repair was assigned to Innova Motorworks (Pty) Ltd under the RT46 Government contract. Joe, the sole director of the company, submitted an invoice falsely claiming that he had installed a new engine, turbo, and injectors.

A post-repair inspection conducted by a SAPS mechanic revealed discrepancies. The inspection showed that the vehicle still retained its old engine, the turbo had merely been sandblasted, and the injectors had not been replaced. This discovery highlighted a significant financial loss for SAPS.

Following a thorough investigation by the Hawks, Joe faced charges of fraud
. On 14 November 2024, the Queenstown Regional Court found him guilty. The following day, he received a sentence of five years of suspended imprisonment, contingent on repaying WesBank over R150,000 with an interest rate of 11.75% by 28 February 2025.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, praised the teams involved for their dedication and hard work in ensuring justice was served.