Six in court for fake money
During the court case it was revealed that the suspects had numerous pending cases.
Five men and a woman appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on May 10 facing charges of being in possession of counterfeit money.
They were arrested in April when they were found in possession of the notes worth R4 500.
Their arrest comes after an alert cashier spotted the bogus money when one of the suspects used a fake R200 note in an attempt to buy alcohol at a liquor outlet in Bayley Street, Farrarmere.
The suspect was detained at the liquor outlet while his five accomplices fled the scene in a white Audi.
Police managed to apprehend them near Gillooly’s interchange and the counterfeit money was found in their vehicle.
The group is believed to have been targeting businesses in Benoni and other areas, using counterfeit money to buy goods.
During their court appearance, issues of negative addresses submitted to the State during the suspects’ previous court appearance caused confusion for both the State and defence.
The prosecutor told the court that the investigative officer went to verify their addresses in Soweto, Orange Farm, and other areas but found that no one knew the suspects except for the accused six.
Multiple addresses were apparently found under their names when they were profiled.
The magistrate raised concerns that if the State proceeds with the case without confirming the suspect’s residential addresses it will be a risk.
He said he was not satisfied with what was happening due to the inaccurate addresses that were submitted by the suspects to the state and issued a stern warning and the last chance to submit correct residential addresses.
It was also revealed during the court matter that the suspects have numerous pending criminal cases.
The matter was postponed to May 20 for a formal bail application.
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Also Read: $20 000 worth of counterfeit money seized
