EASTERN CAPE – A 30-year-old suspect will appear at the East London Magistrates’ Court today, 26 August 2022 for allegations of fraud. The suspect was arrested by the East London based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team at his workplace in Kuruman in the Northern Cape on 24 August 2022 then transported to East London in the Eastern Cape.

It is alleged that in August 2016, the suspect submitted a claim to the value of R1.6 million to Road Accident Fund (RAF) through his attorney alleging that he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Ngcobo where he sustained injuries. The claimant was reportedly on his way home to Libode from Kuruman with his family in a new car bought by his brother who died in that accident.

It is further alleged that the claim was processed by RAF with an initial partial payment of R690 000-00 from which the attorney claimed his share which led to the claimant receiving R500 000-00. The claimant was paid as third party. It is reported that before RAF could make the final payment, they realised that the claimant had written two contradicting statements that led them to conduct an investigation which revealed that the claimant was not entitled to compensation as he is alleged to have been the driver in the accident.

The matter was then referred to the Hawks for an intensive investigation.

Source: South African Police Service