South African police have busted a fake vehicle licenses racket involving municipal officials who were illegally extending expired vehicle discs in Mpumalanga province which borders Mozambique.
Police spokesperson Dineo Sekgotodi said three suspects were arrested on Wednesday. They are officials from the Mbombela Municipality and the Mbombela and White River traffic departments.
“(The) officials would manipulate the system and extend the expiration dates of the vehicle licence discs and re-issue a new disc that showed zero balance,” Sekgotodi said.
She added: “During an investigation by the Hawks (a police crack unit), it was established that the cashiers colluded with motorists after they saw an opportunity with trucks owing large amounts of money.”
The truck owners would pay the money meant for the department to the officials for their own benefit – an act described as “money dumping,” she explained.
They were arrested during a joint operation by the Nelspruit-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation and Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in Mbombela and White River for fraud and money-laundering amounting to US$3.5 million.
The trio is expected to appear at the Nelspruit Magistrate Court to answer charges of issuing fraudulent licence discs, she said.
NM/jn/APA