The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit’s continued persistence and never die attitude paid off. This follows the arrest and subsequent court appearance of the alleged kingpin of the fraud syndicate who appeared along his co-accused at Muizenberg Magistrates Court yesterday.
Arthur Qedinda Dube (38) remained a long outstanding suspect linked to various fraudulent transactions around Cape Town. He was arrested on 15 March in Johannesburg after he was reported as a wanted suspect. He made his first court appearance at Hillbrow Magistrates court. The matter was postponed and transferred to the Muizenberg court for 18 March 2019 where his bail was successfully opposed.
His co-accused, Silindilizwe Ntini (40) and Lwazi Madonono (30) were arrested separately in possession of five (5) cloned bank cards each, they were subsequently charged for contravention with Section 86 of the Electronic Communication and Transaction Act 25 of 2002.
Ntini was arrested on soon after the fraudulent incident at Vangate Mall Cape town in October 2017 and was released on bail. Extensive investigation led to the arrest of Madonono on 24 May 2018. He was on 20 June 2018 also released on bail.
Hawks investigation uncovered about 42 cloned bank cards used at Vangate and Promenade Malls between 24 September and 3 October 2017. Furthermore, about 37 successful illegal withdrawals were committed worth over R75 000. A total of 80 transactions were balance enquiries while 40 were unsuccessful illegal withdrawals.
Ntini and Madonono later appeared in Muizenberg Magistrates Court on 6 June 2018, whilst Dube was still outstanding. Upon their court appearance today alongside Dube in the same Court, the matter was transferred to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville on 26 April 2019.
