Alleged fraud syndicate kingpin arrested

THE Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Units arrested and brought before court the alleged kingpin of a fraud syndicate.

The man and his co-accused appeared in the Muizenberg Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

According to the Hawks, Arthur Qedinda Dube, 38, remained a long outstanding suspect linked to various fraudulent transactions around Cape Town.

He was arrested on March 15, in Johannesburg, after he was reported as a wanted suspect. He made his first court appearance at Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court. The matter was postponed and transferred to the Muizenberg court for March 18, 2019, where his bail was successfully opposed.

His co-accused, Silindilizwe Ntini, 40, and Lwazi Madonono, 30, were arrested separately in possession of five cloned bank cards each. They they were subsequently charged for contravention of Section 86 of the Electronic Communication and Transaction Act 25 of 2002.

Ntini was arrested soon after the fraudulent incident at Vangate Mall, in October 2017, and was released on bail. Extensive investigation led to the arrest of Madonono on May 24, 2018. He was arrested on June 20, 2018, and also released on bail.

The Hawks’ investigation uncovered about 42 cloned bank cards used at Vangate and Promenade Malls, between September 24 and October 3, 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 June 6, 2018, while 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 for April 26, 2019.