eMbalenhle ANC councillor released without court appearance after fraud arrest
Authorities indicated his release was linked to ongoing efforts to locate and apprehend the middleman.
After being arrested on April 27 for alleged fraud, an ANC ward councillor in eMbalenhle was released without appearing before the Evander Magistrate’s Court.
The arrest followed a complaint from a woman who claimed to be scammed while attempting to purchase a residential stand in eMbalenhle in September last year.
According to the police report, someone referred the woman to a man who acted as a middleman in the transaction.
She allegedly paid R30 000 into an account, reportedly shared by the middleman and the councillor. The councillor allegedly received R8 000 of the amount.
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The woman stated the councillor issued her a confirmation letter of ownership for the stand and instructed her to build a temporary structure on the land.
However, she later discovered the property belonged to the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
Upon suspecting fraud, she reported the matter to the police, which led to the councillor’s arrest. The alleged middleman remains at large.
The councillor had to appear in court on April 29, but they released him before his appearance. Authorities indicated his release was linked to ongoing efforts to locate and apprehend the middleman.
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