Prisoner and cousin in court after Hawks probe Mpumalanga scam
A woman was scammed out of R41 760, allegedly by a prisoner posing as a Hawks officer, who arrested him and his cousin.
A call from a prisoner impersonating a Hawks investigator cost a woman R41 760. She cannot be named for safety reasons.
Middelburg Observer reports that, according to a Hawks media statement, the victim was arrested for murder in 2006, but all charges were later withdrawn.
Sixteen years later, in September 2022, the victim received a call from a man claiming to be Hawks Captain Monama, who alleged that the case was reopened and a warrant of arrest had been issued.
The man demanded R25 000 to avoid her arrest and promised to destroy evidence against her. The victim paid the money in two instalments.
Two months later, the same caller contacted her again, saying their ‘agreement’ failed because his colleague, ‘Detective Wessels’, had found out she had not yet been arrested. The caller, later identified as prisoner Bonginkosi Masango, allegedly demanded more money to pacify the so-called detective.
Breakthrough in the investigation
In 2024, the victim opened a case at Siyabuswa SAPS. The matter was referred to the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Corruption Investigation Unit.
Their work linked Masango after his cousin, 28-year-old Koosnight Mahlangu, was arrested on September 3.
It was revealed that Masango is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape in 2015.
Court appearance
Masango (29) and Mahlangu appeared in the Mdutjane Magistrate’s Court in Siyabuswa yesterday. Mahlangu was released on R1 000 bail, while Masango was remanded in custody.
The court ordered both men to appear in the Mdutjana Regional Court on October 6.
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Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
