A SUSPECTED RING LEADER BUSTED FOR FRAUDULENT VEHICLE LICENCING
PARYS - A man believed to be part of a cartel that is behind the multi million rand fraud involving the licensing of motor vehicles has been arrestied.
The man was busted in Parys, Free State in a joint intelligence led operation conducted by a team comprising members of Road Traffic Management Corporation’s National Anti-Corruption Unit, the South African Police Service’s Crime Intelligence Tactical and Special Operations, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), as well as the cyber units from Crime Intelligence and the Hawks.
The arrest came after members of crime intelligence obtained information indicating that a man was suspected to have possession of the National Traffic Information System (Natis) at his private residence and was fraudulently assisting vehicle owners to renew vehicle licences.
On arrival at location members noticed a computer screen with Natis logon screen on and user number and password typed in ready to execute any transaction.
Natis printouts and reports from different provinces were also found at the scene.
Black flash books, papers with vehicle licence plates, Natis credentials and identity numbers were also found.
The suspect, believe to be an IT specialist, implicated transport department ex-officials/ Natis users and active Natis users from different provinces and national department of transport.
The suspect alleged that the user numbers are bought from officials using memory sticks.
The suspect alleged that they are a big team operating in the South of Gauteng and Free State.
They have infiltrated all the provinces as they can access Natis using credentials provided by their official contacts in all the provinces.
They target all the DLTCs where biometric system is not yet installed. They also have credentials of Private Vehicle Testing Stations and are able to capture/declare a vehicle roadworthy on the system.
The following items were seized: a black cooler bag with documents, a HP laptop, and desktop computers .
The arrest represents a major breakthrough in investigations into activities of this syndicate. The RTMC and the police have been investigating this for the past three years and believes that more arrests are imminent.
The investigation continues tracing the rest of the outstanding suspects.
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