Limpopo Vehicle Fraudster sentenced to eight years

Jele Silas Maluleke [45] was sentenced to eight years of direct imprisonment by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, Limpopo, after purchasing a VW Polo Vivo worth R222 000 using fraudulent documents.

Maluleke, along with his accomplice, produced fraudulent payslips and bank statements as supporting documents for the vehicle finance application on 01 September 2016.

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The application was processed, and finance for the VW Polo Vivo was approved. However, Maluleke failed to make payments. As a result, the bank conducted internal investigations and detected fraud.

The case was docked and transferred to the Polokwane-based Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) for further investigation.

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The SCCI conducted the investigations and handed the dockets to the National Prosecuting Authority for decision. As a result, the NPA issued the warrants (warning) for the suspects to appear in court.

Both accused made several court appearances until Maluleke pleaded guilty and was sentenced.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province, Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender, is concerned about the number of fraud cases relating to the purchase of motor vehicles.

He urged the vehicle dealership owner to conduct an audit prior to releasing or handing over vehicles to the buyer.