Congolese allegedly stole woman’s pension money

A 44-YEAR-OLD suspect, Congolese national Joseph Hassan Yaye, has appeared in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud and theft.

Yaye was remanded in custody next Wednesday for the arrangement of an interpreter and legal representation.

Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said: “It is alleged that the suspect and his accomplice defrauded a 54-year-old woman of a substantial amount of money during May 2023.

“The victim was an employee at Limpopo SAPS.

“She was allegedly convinced by a suspect to resign from work and invest her payout money in a business venture.

“She eventually resigned, and after receiving her lump sum, she allegedly withdrew an amount of R500 000 and gave (it to) a suspect who is currently on the run.

“She was apparently further convinced to transfer other money into the bank account of the arrested suspect.”

Upon noticing that the men had disappeared with her money, the former SAPS employee reported the matter to the police in July 2023.

A case of fraud and theft was opened for investigation.

“Intensive police investigations led to the arrest of the suspect on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in the Jane Furse policing area.

“Anyone with information about the remaining wanted suspect should contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Corlet Baloyi, on 072 160 5396, Crime Stop number on 08600 10111, the nearest police station or on My SAPS App.”

Last year, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, issued a warning to South African women to be vigilant amid a “rapid increase of dating scam incidents” in Limpopo province.

The warning came after a 60-yearold Polokwane-based woman was scammed out of more than R800 000 of her pension money.

“According to the victim, who was employed by the Department of Education in Limpopo province as a teacher, randomly met a guy at a shopping complex in Polokwane in the beginning of the year,” the Hawks said at the time.

“The suspect allegedly proposed love to the victim, who was due for retirement at the age of 60 in June this year.”