Card skimmer from Leandra goes to jail
They searched the operation booths and a skimming device was found which led to the arrest of Motaung.
A man was sentenced to 12 years behind bars in connection with card skimming at the Leandra toll gate.
The Leslie Regional Court in Leandra found Thankiso Joseph Motaung (30) guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in prison on Monday, May 8.
Members of the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based in Middelburg on April 26, 2016, followed up on information regarding a person who was using a skimming device at Leandra Off-ramp tollgate on N17 in Leandra.
The Hawks team, together with private investigators from ABSA and FNB, conducted their preliminary exploration at the tollgate.
They searched the operation booths and a skimming device was found which led to the arrest of Motaung.
Motaung was linked to other cases that happened at Leandra, Secunda and Nelspruit in April 2016, and Hazywiew in May 2016.
Motaung will effectively serve 12 years in prison after he was convicted on 366 charges that include conspiracy to commit an offence, possession of listed equipment, unlawful use of a computer programme, unlawful interception of the Communication Act, Counterfeit Goods Act, fraud and theft.
The provincial head of the Hawks, Major-General Nico Gerber, applauded the investigators and the prosecution team for ensuring that the accused received an appropriate sentence which will also serve as a deterrent to other would-be scammers.
ALSO READ: eMbalenhle police need help to reunite man with his family
ALSO READ: Hawks warn civil servants in Standerton to watch out for bogus officers
