The Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court sentenced a Free State man to prison for vehicle fraud.
Mlodi Van Rooi Mpofane, 32, was convicted of fraud and theft.
On August 3, 2022, officers of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (also known as Hawks) detained him.
Captain Christopher Singo, the Hawks’ provincial spokesperson, said the arrest stemmed from an incident in June 2021.
“It was reported that Mpofane approached a car dealership in Harrismith and applied for financing of five vehicles to the value of R3,241,862. He then submitted all the required documents to the sales department at the dealership. The sales department forwarded these documents to the bank so that the bank could finance the vehicles,” Singo said.
Mpofane’s application for finance was approved by the bank and he was requested by the dealership to bring along his identity document and driver’s license when he collects the vehicles.
“Mpofane collected all the vehicles after submitting all the required documents. During the verification of Mpofane’s documents by the finance department, it was discovered that the bank statements and proof of income were fraudulent,” Singo said.
The incident was referred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Bethlehem for further investigation.
The bank repossessed and retrieved all five automobiles.
Mpofane was sentenced to ten years in jail, which will be completely suspended if he is not guilty of the same offence during the suspension term.
The court also declared him unfit to possess a handgun.