Police are on the hunt for a fake “doctor” who escaped custody recently.

Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the police stationed in Lyttelton were on the hunt for an escaped accused known by Dr. Kingsley Leeto Chele or Dr. KJ Ncube.

Masondo said the man was masquerading as a doctor and targeting women.

“The police in Lyttleton, Tshwane district, have launched a manhunt for an escaped accused named Kingsley Leeto Chele, allegedly a Facebook con artist.

“He targets women by misrepresenting himself as a doctor or a pharmacist and scamming them of their hard-earned money.”

Masondo said the bogus doctor’s operation was to contact health professionals on Facebook and engage them, pretending to seek investors. He said his modus operandi intended to swindle the victims out of thousands of rands for projects that did not exist.

“He was arrested by the police on October 2 on two cases of fraud that were registered in Sunnyside and Klipgat in June 2023. His bail was denied when he appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate Court, and he was remanded in custody until his next appearance on October 17, 2023.

“Doctor” escapes

He said however Chele managed to escape from lawful custody when the police were cataloguing his household items at his residence. “He has been on the run since.”

Masondo said police had however managed to rope in some of his assets through the asset forfeiture unit on October 11, 2023. He said property and a 2023 VW Golf GTI were attached as it was believed to have been accumulated as proceeds of his crimes.

“The police have registered a case of escape from lawful custody at SAPS Honeydew.”

Masondo said anyone with information is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Captain MS Motolla at 082 715 9583 or to contact Crime Stop Number, 08600 10111.