Hawks in the Eastern Cape have welcomed the conviction handed down to a Malawian national scam artist.
Kasenjera Bashir was on Wednesday found guilty of defrauding a Port Elizabeth teacher out of R656 000 of his pension money.
Bashir, who went by the name of professor Anandkat, advertised his fraudulent business on a local newspaper claiming that he could assist those with financial distress.
In 2017, he managed to convince the unsuspecting teacher at the time to cash in his pension and hand over the amount to him.
Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase said the teacher was promised more returns through rituals he would perform.
Nkwalase said after the victim had realised that he had been conned in 2018, he reported the matter to the local police in Motherwell who later referred the matter to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime investigating team for a further probe.
Bashir, who also tried to bribe a police officer with R100 000 was also found guilty of the contravention of several acts that include the Consumer Protection Act, POCA Act as well as the Immigration Act.
He is set to be sentenced on the 21st of August.
