Katlehong SAPS nab fraudster in Free State

A Mozambican national, Josse Thobela (50), has been convicted to eight years direct imprisonment with no option to a fine by the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Courts on charges of fraud, on September 15.

Thobela lived in Welkom, Free State, when the Katlehong South SAPS (Ramokonopi) arrested him on December 9, 2021, after hiding from law enforcement for almost a year.

According to police reports, the fraudster was nabbed for fraudulently using the personal documents of David Tshabalala (50) to register his vehicle license disc and to take loans and credit with clothing retail shops without his knowledge.

The investigating officer on the case, Detective Sergeant Sello Sipho Mokoena said Tshabalala (then 46 years old) was puzzled to find that he had another vehicle registered in his name after his visit to the licensing department to renew the licence disc of his vehicle on August 30, 2019.

“To his surprise, the official requested him to pay for the other vehicle that appeared in his name,” Mokoena explained.

Tshabalala informed the officials that he only owned one vehicle. He further said a similar occurrence happened to him in 2001, where someone fraudulently used his name, and he had to bear the costs.

Unfortunately, this time, the fraudster stretched his pockets too much because he registered a clothing account and took bank loans in his name.

Mokoena said Tshabalala immediately reported a case of fraud at the Katlehong SAPS, which was registered and assigned to him.

He started his investigation by visiting The Department of Home Affairs, along with Tshabalala, for a verification check. Tshabalala and Thobela did not know each other.

“I established Tshabalala was not sharing his identity with anyone, meaning his ID was issued once and there was no other twin ID. However, someone was using the Tshabalala’s personal information and photographs,” said Mokoena.

Mokoena said the police received information about a possible suspect at Welkom, but when Thobela noticed the police were tracing him, he changed his residential address several times within the province.

Ultimately, everything under his name was blocked, which resulted in his retrenchment at his place of employment.

The arrest

On February 9, 2021, the court issued a warrant of arrest for Thobela, which subsequently led to his arrest towards the end of the year.

The IO said he visited the Free State twice before he could apprehend Thobela, who was found at his home in Welkom, Free State, where he has been living since he was twelve years old.

He appeared in court and was remanded in custody.

Mokoena further established that Thobela was a Mozambican foreign national who entered the country illegally.

Thobela pleaded not guilty in court and did not show any remorse. He was found guilty at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on all four counts on which he was charged, including two counts of fraud and two counts of forgery, on September 1 and sentenced on September 15.

Mokoena said with the help of the Department of Home Affairs the case was not difficult to crack.

“I presented the evidence from Home Affairs proving that Thobela was an imposter and I am pleased with the sentence.

“Such cases are not common. I advise the community to always check their identity documents and report it as soon as they are lost.”

Katlehong South SAPS media liaison officer Constable Sivenkosi Mtwa said, “It is always wise to report upon suspicion, but when it comes to fraud cases, people must protect their personal belongings at all costs, even from our relatives,” said Mtwa.

“Sometimes we are defrauded because the information was shared by someone close to us, even though unintentionally.”

He said whenever you have lost your personal documents such as bank cards, IDs or any other documents, block them immediately to prevent a crime committed in your name.

The station commander, Brigadier Albertina Vesi, commended Mokoena’s efforts to address the proliferation of commercial crimes and misdemeanours.

“This will send a message to other perpetrators thinking of committing the same crime,” said Vesi.

Thobela has started serving his sentence at Boksburg Correctional Service.