Hawks nab 7 men for illicit electricity sales The ‘ghost vending’ syndicates generate income of between R150,000 and R250,000 a day from the illicit sale of electricity, say police 09 June 2021 - 20:54 Seven suspects between the age of 28 and 67 were arrested at the crack of dawn by a multidisciplinary team that swooped in on various premises in Gauteng. Image: Supplied: HAWKS
Seven men between the ages of 28 and 67 were arrested at various locations across Gauteng on Wednesday.
They are accused of large-scale prepaid electricity fraud and theft. They are expected to appear in the Fochville magistrate’s court on Friday.
Hawks spokesperson Col Philani Nkwalase said one of the suspects allegedly enticed the arresting officers with a R100,000 bribe during their arrest, and was also charged with corruption.
They were cornered in Gqeberha yesterday. When officials pulled over the vehicle, they found 430 kilograms of abalone stashed inside. They re due in court tomorrow according to the Hawk’s Yolisa Mgolodela.
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