The Free State Hawks’ probing regarding a convicted Bangladeshi man, Saddam Hussein, who fraudulently obtained a South African identity document (ID) has yielded the arrest of a Home Affairs official. The 46-year-old man is set to appear in the Lindley Magistrates’ Court today – Monday, 29 July – facing a charge of corruption.
Col. Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the Bethlehem Hawks’ detectives nailed the suspect on Friday, 26 July, as part of ongoing investigations regarding corruption involving briberies to issue IDs to foreign nationals.
“The suspect is alleged to have facilitated fraudulent IDs for foreign nationals at a fee of R10 000,” he said.
Mohobeleli said the official, a South African citizen, will reappear in the Lindley Magistrates’ Court tomorrow – Tuesday, 30 July – alongside convicted fraudster Hussein. The Bangladeshi man has began his three-year imprisonment term after the Kroonstad Magistrates’ Court sentencing on 24 June. The court sentenced him based on compelling evidence for identify theft, and a fine of R2 000 for contravention of the Immigration Act or eight months’ imprisonment.
Probing uncovered that Hussein fraudulently obtained a South African ID (smart ID) and passport, under the details of a bonafide South African citizen, Sibusiso Ntamo. The crooked Bangladeshi was arrested with his partner in April this year, for aiding and abetting another foreign national to obtain an ID. Evidence revealed that Hussein made false statement, claiming to have lost both his ID and passport when applying at the Kroonstad Home Affairs facilities.
The case against Hussein’s partner is pending an ongoing investigation by the Hawks and provincial Department of Home Affairs.
