EASTERN CAPE – Lukhanyo Nelson Mkalipi (36) appeared on Wednesday in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Port Elizabeth for sentencing after being found guilty fraud and theft.
Mkhalipi was arrested 11 September 2018, following an investigation in 2015 which identified him as part of a syndicate targeting foreigners at ATM’s in Summerstrand area. The syndicate was suspected of stealing the bank cards and making unauthorised withdrawals with them.
It is reported that on 20 October 2015 a bank card of the complainant was stolen at Summerstrand Village and an amount of R7 100-00 was withdrawn from his account using the stolen bank card. Again on 25 November 2015 another complainant’s card was stolen at Summerstrand Village and an amount of R28 850-00 was withdrawn using this stolen bank card.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime investigation in Port Elizabeth was tasked to investigate the trend. The investigators linked Mkhalipi to both cases after his arrest. He was charged with fraud and theft for the cases amounting to R35 950-00.
Lukhanyo Nelson Mkalipi was sentenced to six years imprisonment for two counts of fraud and two counts of theft.
