Local fraudster nabbed in Cape Town
Different police stations issued warrants of arrest against the alleged tyre fraudster who was arrested in Cape Town.
Gopolang Chawane
A man arrested in Cape Town on Friday, for fraud, has numerous warrants of arrest against him from other jurisdictions.
Lyttelton police spokesperson Warrant Officer Hero Gumbu said: “Limpopo, Cape Town, Summerset West and Mpumalanga police, all have warrants of arrest for the man believed to be a fraudster.”
Gumbu said the man was held at the Claremont police station, and was arrested in the Cape Town suburb while he was attempting to sell golf equipment.
Malalane Toyota risk manager, Rory Greene contacted Rekord after seeing a picture of the man in a previous report.
He said the Claremont buyer had contacted police after his online research led him to suspect the man was a fraudster. The buyer read numerous reports of fraud in which the man was identified as a possible suspect.
Gumbu said the management of Hi-Q Centurion laid a charge against the man, claiming he had defrauded the shop.
Wierdabrug police spokesperson Captain Agnes Huma confirmed the case was under investigation.
Greene, in an email, said the man had a conviction for fraud, and according to a source, he had served four of a 15-year prison sentence and was currently on parole.
He said the man was also wanted in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga.
“He targeted Komatipoort Tyre-Mart in April 2015, and got away with R27 816 worth of tyres [without paying for them].
He is also linked to two Hi-Q matters reported to the Lyttelton and Wierdabrug police stations,” said Greene.
He also confirmed the man had in recent months, been involved with Tip Top Tyres in Pretoria North and a Hi-Q in Polokwane, who confirmed the fraudulent activity.
Greene said he hoped now that the man was arrested, justice would be done.
In July, the man was reported to have made a fraudulent payment for tyres to two outlets in Centurion.
At an Hi-Q branch in Centurion, he purchased eight tyres for R13 950, and a few days later, he “bought” tyres at the Hi-Q in central Centurion for R21 800.
Hi-Q spokesperson Jaco de Bruyn said at that time, it was not clear how he got away with this.
“Somehow the transactions appeared to be totally legitimate on the screen. The outlet’s head office discovered later that no payment went through,” said De Bruyn
It is alleged the man used the same modus operandi to defraud Auto Wheel and Tyre in Pretoria West.
The man contacted Rekord proclaiming innocence.
He said he had a payment arrangement with Hi-Q.
A Hi-Q staff member, who did not want to be identified, confirmed a payment was made around July but there was still a substantial debt outstanding.
Gumbu asked anyone with information on the matter to call Wierdabrug Police station on 012-685-0015.
Also read:
Police breakthrough in tyre fraud
Fraudster hits Centurion tyre outlets
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