VIRGINIA – A 44-year-old foreign national has been arrested on fraud charges after allegedly using a counterfeit South African identity document, following a joint operation between Welkom’s Anti-Gang Unit and Crime Intelligence.
South African Police Service (SAPS) members attached to the Welkom AGU acted on intelligence-driven information on Tuesday, 14 October, regarding a foreign national who was allegedly misrepresenting himself as a South African citizen.
The suspect was traced and apprehended in the Virginia central area. Preliminary investigations and verification with the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the identity document in the suspect’s possession was fraudulent.
Police allege that the suspect had affixed his photograph to the identity document whilst retaining another person’s personal details. The extent of crimes potentially committed using the fraudulent document remains unknown as investigations continue.
Officers confiscated one green South African identity book allegedly used in the misrepresentation scheme.
The suspect faces charges of fraud and contraventions under the Immigration Act. He is expected to appear before the Virginia Magistrate’s Court shortly.
Police investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the alleged fraudulent activities.
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