EASTERN CAPE – Akhatar Rajjab (43) appeared before the Gqeberha New Law court on 9 October 2024. Rajjab was arrested by the Gqeberha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks in a joint effort with Walmer Detective Services and Gqeberha Department of Home Affairs on Sunday, 6 October 2024 for allegations of fraud, corruption and contravention of immigration Act.
It is alleged that the complainant who happened to be an official from the Department of Home Affairs received information about a foreign national who was reportedly issuing fraudulent bank statements, police certificates, radiology reports in order to renew permits. An intelligence driven operation was conducted where the suspect was followed and approached by the joint team while entering his silver Volkswagen T-Cross at Moffatt Main Shopping Centre in Gqeberha and the team requested to search the vehicle. Upon searching, the team found inside his vehicle passports, visa application files containing fraudulent documents, eighty (80) original marriage certificates, blank Home Affairs forms, eighty-five (85) passports reportedly belonging to foreign nationals from different countries, blank police affidavits, six (6) lawyers stamps and a commissioner of oath stamp. Search continued where in his possession cash to the value of over R42 000 and US$7000 (R140 000) were seized. The vehicle was also seized for further investigation.
The accused made his first court appearance before the Gqeberha New Law court on 9 October 2024 and the matter was remanded to 16 October 2024 for formal bail application. Rajjab was remanded in custody and the investigation is still ongoing.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya commended the swift response and proper utilisation of expert investigation skills by the collaboration of law-enforcement agencies.
What is Fraud? “Fraud” is any activity that relies on deception in order to achieve a gain. Fraud becomes a crime when it is a “knowing misrepresentation of the truth or concealment of a material fact to induce another to act to his or her detriment” (Black’s Law Dictionary). In other words, if you lie in order to deprive a person or organization of their money or property, you’re committing fraud.