The Ivory Park SAPS arrested a 36-year-old man on February 21 for fraudulently selling stands on a piece of land not belonging to him.
Capt Bernard Matimulane said upon learning about the goings-on at the land in Tswelopele Extension Eight, the police proceeded to the location, they found a group of people.
“Investigations commenced immediately to establish who was selling the stands from a vehicle used as a make-shift office. Police arrested the suspect and also took the vehicle.
“Upon further questioning, the suspect could not tell the police how he ended up selling a piece of land which did not belong to him, let alone who authorised him to sell the land,” said Matimulane.
“The lawful owner of the land has since opened a case of trespassing after learning there were people who had been partitioning his land into stands for residential dwellings.”
The station commander of Ivory Park SAPS, Brig David Mbongeni Ngcobo, warned residents against buying stands from people whose authenticity they could not confirm as they would end up being victims of fraud.
“People should have suspected that something was amiss when a piece of land was being sold for a song. As much as many people are desperate to have places they can call their own, they are equally obliged to guard against being defrauded,” said Ngcobo.
Police investigations are ongoing as it is unknown whether the suspect was operating alone. Any information relating to the crime can be reported on 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.
