The spokesperson for the Hawks in the Free State, Lynda Steyn, says the latest suspect was arrested in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape on Thursday. Steyn says two suspects are still at large. 

On Wednesday, the OFM News and other media houses followed the Hawks around Bloemfontein as 15 people were nabbed for fraud, corruption and money laundering following a year-long investigation by the directorate into the syndicate. Six officials employed by the Lengau Traffic and Testing Centre in the Free State capital are amongst the 15 people arrested on Wednesday across the four provinces, which also include Limpopo, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. The group stands accused of issuing fraudulent roadworthy certificates for deregistered vehicles in exchange for money, amongst other violations.

The apprehended group includes admin clerks, a police officer and driving school employees from the four provinces. They will all appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

In effecting the arrests, authorities raided the homes of the accused, seizing documentation that they deemed pertinent to their investigation. The arrests first took place at Lengau and later at varied residential areas in the Free State capital including Lourier Park, Pellisier, Phase 2 and Phase 6. Reports on the ground indicate the arrests have rocked the Lengau Traffic and Testing Centre, which falls under the Provincial Department of Police, Roads and Transport. The spokesperson for the department, Hillary Mophethe is yet to comment on the arrests.

OFM News