Bogus Home Affairs Worker Arrested in Passport Fraud Scheme
A fake home affairs employee has been arrested for allegedly working with two Ethiopian nationals in a passport fraud and theft operation, the Hawks confirmed.
Lindiwe Kubheka, 45, was taken into custody following a tip-off that she was colluding with Abdo Mustefu Musa, 44, and Mike Alex Abete, 38, to stamp expired passports, according to Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the Hawks’ provincial spokesperson.
“The Hawks received information and immediately launched an undercover operation. Abete was paid R20,000 to stamp the expired passports, but he failed to follow through with the deal,” said Sekgotodi.
Authorities obtained arrest warrants and conducted a search-and-seizure operation on Monday, September 16, 2024. During the raid, police uncovered a significant amount of documentation from the department of home affairs and the department of transport. These documents will be analyzed by the relevant departments.
During interrogation, Abete revealed that he had handed the money and passports to Musa. When questioned, Musa admitted to receiving R5,000 and the passports from Abete, which he then passed on to Kubheka.
Kubheka, when confronted, claimed she had only received R2,500 and the passports. A further search led to the recovery and seizure of three passports.
All three suspects appeared before the Eerstehoek Magistrate’s Court in Elukwatini on Tuesday, where they were each granted R3,000 bail. They are expected to return to court on November 5, 2024.
The investigation into the passport fraud operation is ongoing.
IOL
