FREE STATE – It is alleged that on Sunday, 23 January 2022, a group men arrived at a filling station in Dewetsdorp in a black Volkswagen microbus at about 18:30. The bank card declined as they were making a payment for the fuel and they fled the scene. The police were called to the scene and, on arrival, initiated a preliminary investigation. Information led the police to Riverside Location where the vehicle was found abandoned and the police went searching for the suspects on foot. All six suspects, with ages from 23 to 45 years old, were arrested.

Further information revealed that a case of fraud was opened at Navalsig Police Station. An advertisement to sell the microbus was placed on social media networks by a seller living in Estoire. One of the suspects showed interest and arrived in Estoire where he made the transaction to purchase the vehicle. The unsuspecting seller handed over the documents and the bus. After the suspect had left with the vehicle, the seller noticed that the transaction was cancelled. A case of Fraud was then opened on Friday 21 January 2022.

The suspects are still in police custody. They will appear in Dewetsdorp Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 25 January 2022.

Source: South African Police Service