Category: General

WESTERN CAPE – Bill Ho (52) also known as Wong pleaded guilty on multiple charges linked to operating a clandestine abalone facility. This happened when he appeared at the Khayelitsha Regional Court on Wednesday, 02 June 2021.

He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment for two counts of contravening the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998. Additionally a five-year sentence was also handed to him for contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (POCA) and both five-year sentences were wholly suspended for five years with stringent conditions.

A further two-year correctional supervision sentence was imposed on him in terms of Sec 276 (1)(h) of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) Act 51 of 1977. The court also ordered that he pays R32 980-00 into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA) and all the abalone and equipment that was seized during a search and seizure be forfeited to the State. Three of his vehicles that had been seized were also signed off and now awaits the pending forfeiture order from the high court.

All this culminated after his arrest on the 13 February 2020 by the multidisciplinary team that included the Western Cape Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Gauteng K9 Unit and DAFF Officials for Western Cape. He was arrested during a search and seizure operation that exposed a syndicate involved in the poaching, buying and selling of illicit abalone in both Gauteng and Western Cape Provinces.

Meanwhile, his co-accused, Solomon Sauls, the kingpin of the group in the Western Cape, pleaded guilty on 09 February 2021, on charges that include POCA and contravention of the Marine living Resources Act and is already serving a sentence of six (6) years direct imprisonment.

Source: South African Police Service

GAUTENG – The Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court granted R3000-00 bail to alleged fraudster, Mduduzi Nhlapo (33) who is facing charges of fraud.

It is alleged that Nhlapo submitted fraudulent bank statements and payslips when applying for vehicle finance of R696 000-00 at a Malboro Merceds Benz dealership in April 2017.

The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Johannesburg executed the warrant of arrest on Saturday and subsequently charged Nhlapo for fraud at his Orlando East home in Soweto.

Nhlapo appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday and was granted bail. The case is postponed to 24 June for disclosure where he will be joining his co-accused girlfriend, Ntandokuhle Khumalo (30). Khumalo was arrested in December 2018 for the same fraud offense and released on bail.

Source: South African Police Service

EASTERN CAPE – Dr Tony Moodley (66) appeared at the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crime Court on the 01 June 2021 for sentencing on multiple charges of Road Accident Fund (RAF) fraud to the tune of R2.25 Million.

His sentencing is a consequence of repeated court appearances and a subsequent conviction on the 14 December 2020.

The Serious Commercial Crime Investigation revealed that Doctor Moodley orchestrated RAF claims on 17 June 2007, for 83 patients he reportedly attended to, of which some were undeserving. These patients were said to have been involved in a head-on collision that took place between two buses on 16 June 2007 at Walmer in Gqeberha.

The claims were lodged with the local Attorneys who claimed on behalf of the passengers from RAF. Consequently, cash to the combined value of R2,25 million was paid out for all claimants. Moodley is said to have received kickbacks from the undeserving claimants.

Later on, Road Accident Fund uncovered some inconsistencies after looking at the order of events and reported the matter to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Gqeberha for a further probe which led to his arrest on 02 July 2015. The doctor was released on warning the very same day.

Dr Moodley was sentenced to 36 months correctional supervision and 576 hours community service at Livingstone Hospital.

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – A 36-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court today for corruption.

The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, 01 June 2021 by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team following a tipoff regarding an attempt to entice an Immigration Officer.

The suspect allegedly approached the official and offered a R2000-00 gratification for the release of his niece who was arrested for being in the country illegally. He was arrested soon after he had handed over the R2000-00 to the official.

Source: South African Police Service

WESTERN CAPE – Patrick Emeka Offor (49) pleaded guilty on charges of dealing in drugs and contravening the Immigration Act when he appeared at the Khayelitsha Priority Court on Monday, 31 May 2021.

He was subsequently sentenced to twelve (12) years imprisonment for dealing in drugs, of which four (4) years was suspended for five years. A further four (4) years sentence for contravening the Immigration Act was imposed on him, both sentences are said to run concurrently.

He was on 08 September 2020 arrested during a search and seizure operation conducted by the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau team in Cape Town together with Crime Intelligence CI (Anti-Narcotics) and SAPS OPS Team. 12 kg of TIK with a street value of R3 million was found concealed in the wardrobe at the premises on Brand Street, Bellville South where a search warrant was executed.

Offor will effectively serve eight (8) years direct imprisonment, thereafter serving the sentence he will be deported.

Source: South African Police Service

FREE STATE – The community served by Dealesville SAPS are advised that the police station is temporarily closed due to a Covid-19 related case.

The CSC will operate from the Victim Empowerment Centre at Nr. 6 School Street. For emergencies and / or enquiries the following numbers can be used:

Station Commander: 082 466 8381.

Vispol Commander number: 0728429482.

The station will undergo decontamination and affected members will be subjected to necessary Covid-19 related protocols.

The community will be informed once the police station is operational.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane and management wishes to assure the communities that services will not be hampered during closure of police stations and apologises for any inconvenience that may arise.

Source: South African Police Service