Alleged UIF fraudster fugitive rearrested in Gauteng
The fraud accused was granted bail and absconded after only three court appearances.
The Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation unit has rearrested an accused on Saturday, October 18, who allegedly impersonated an employee of the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL).
Mohlala was initially arrested in eMkhondo (formerly Piet Retief) on February 22, 2022. According to the Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, the accused reportedly contacted an employee in the DEL’s eMkhondo office and asked him to process fake UIF payments, promising to share the profits with the employee.
“The employee then contacted the Hawks in Mpumalanga to report the incident and a meeting was scheduled with the accused on February 22, 2022,” said Nkosi.
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“During Mohlala’s meeting with the employee, the Hawks watched on closely until five claim forms containing particulars of applicants from Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng were handed over,” Nkosi explained.
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The accused was arrested and appeared in the eMkhondo Magistrate’s Court, where he was granted bail. He honoured the court’s directive to appear in court on three occasions, after which he absconded.
Nkosi said a warrant of arrest was secured and executed from Friday, October 17, at 22:00, until his arrest in Ivory Park, Gauteng, on Saturday at 04:30.
“During his arrest, he was found in possession of a notebook containing numerous identity numbers and bank account details, as well as uncompleted UIF claim forms,” he added.
Mohlala appeared in the eMkhondo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, October 20. He was remanded in custody and will appear again on October 28 for a bail application.
The provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber said: “The suspect’s actions are an indication that he has not ceased his activities. He must answer to the court how he got hold of personal details of members of the public and introduced himself as a DEL official.”
