POTCHEFSTROOM - On Wednesday, 22 June 2022, three suspects, aged 17, 24 and 51, appeared in the Lichtenburg Magistrate's Court for fraud and theft. The case against the minor was postponed until Tuesday, 28 June 2022, and he was released in the custody of his father. The other two accused were each released on R10 000.00 bail and are expected to reappear in court on Tuesday, 2 August 2022.

It is alleged that the 17-year-old accused used to frequently visit two elderlies aged 81 and 85 at their residences in Lichtenburg between July 2021 and June 2022. During the visits, he would assist the victims to pay their accounts through online banking. In one of the visits, he changed one of the victims' cell phones setting after convincing them that the settings were not properly working. The accused then transferred money from the victims' accounts into his.

Consequent to becoming suspicious, the pair asked their grandson to enquire at the bank about unknown transactions amounting to R10 346 000.00, effected in their three bank accounts between July 2021 and June 2022. Thus, the grandson opened a case of fraud and theft.

Investigations into the matter revealed that the account into which the monies were deposited into, belongs to the 17-year-old accused and that of his mother (51) and sister (24) received R750 000.00 each.

The trio was traced and arrested. Furthermore, an amount of R348 000.00 was recovered.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Isak Blom for his commitment which resulted in the arrest.

Source: South African Police Service