VEREENIGING. – The Vereeniging Station Commander Brigadier Sibongile Ndaba has applauded the hard work of Sergeant Nompe Phalatse and Sergeant Scotch Tabane who carried out a fraud investigation against 35-year-old Shana Tshidi Mahlase.

Mahlase was arrested in 2021 after defrauding four victims of large amounts of money. It is alleged that Mahlase defrauded unsuspecting victims by pretending to sell cars.

Police Spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda says, “The first victim her cousin was defrauded R198 000, the second victim who is her aunt lost R165000, the third victim R90 000 and the fourth victim R85 000.”

Funda reports that the aunt withdrew the case after the suspect paid her R100 000. “

The suspect was trialed and found guilty by the court, giving her a total of 18 years imprisonment for fraud.

“For the cases of R90 000 and R85.000 she was handed five years for each count, while she was given four years respectively for R198 000 and R165 000.”

This happened after a sterling and intensive watertight investigation done by two dedicated investigating officers specializing in fraud investigations. Ndaba says, “This is the kind of commitment we are expecting from all our members. The two officers have put the service on the map.”

Members of the community are urged to report all crime activities that they might be aware of anonymously to crime stop on 0861 10111 or report using the MYSAPS App. “Information will be treated with the strictest confidence.”