Police in the Eden Cluster in the Southern Cape have arrested two suspects after they allegedly defrauded a number of taxi owners in George and surrounds to the tune of thousands of rand.
Captain Malcolm Pojie says the suspects were arrested on Monday after a falsified letter was disseminated among taxi owners.
Pojie said a fraud and theft docket emanates from the fraudulent letter that was circulated during November regarding the issuing of new taxi permit operating licences.
He said one suspect allegedly offered the 'new permits' at a rate of at least R5000 cash.
"The suspects allegedly received tens of thousands of rand, affecting about 6 different victims of whom some had paid over substantial amounts of cash for multiple so-called permits that were never issued," said Pojie.
He added that the George Municipality laid fraud and theft charges against the suspects on 29 November 2018. The complainant on behalf of the municipality claimed that the letter with the signature of the municipal manager on it, was falsified.
Subsequent to the charges being laid, the investigating team raided the homes of the suspects on Monday after obtaining a search warrant from the George Magistrate's Court.
The pair, aged 50 and 68, are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Police are appealing to anyone who might have fallen victim to this alleged scam to contact George SAPS.
-African News Agency (ANA)
