2 sentenced for fraud at Mpumalanga toll plaza

Erick Thulani Phiri (32) and Lourens Zitha (30) pleaded guilty to fraud committed at the Nkomazi Toll Plaza, and were on Thursday sentenced by the Low’s Creek Periodical Court.

According to Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the convicts were arrested during an undercover operation conducted on the N4 next to Nkomazi Toll Plaza on April 24.

“Information was received and followed up on by the Hawks’ Nelspruit-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, and FNB and Nedbank’s forensic investigators regarding suspects who were using stolen or counterfeit bank cards to assist truck and motor vehicle drivers by swiping the credit cards to access the toll gate in exchange for cash.”

The accused were immediately arrested, charged and detained. They appeared in court on several occasions and were later released on R2 000 bail each.

Sekgotodi said during the operation Phiri was searched and found in possession of FNB and Nedbank credit cards, which had been reported stolen, prejudicing and causing an actual loss of more than R16 000. Zitha was found in possession of similar credit cards and an additional FNB debit card and toll gate transaction slips, prejudicing and causing an actual loss of more than R19 000.

Phiri was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment or a R3 000 fine, while Zitha received six months’ imprisonment or a R6 000 fine.