Hawks arrest a fugitive for conspiracy to defraud Postbank
A joint crime-combating operation involving the Hawks led to the arrest of a man from Bloemfontein at the long weekend for conspiracy to defraud Postbank of an amount of R200 million.
Yesterday, 16 June 2014, the suspect, 45-year-old Moketsi Enoch Mahoko was arrested in Bloemfontein as a result of an intelligence-driven operation by the Cyber Crime Unit of the Hawks in the Free State. The arrest was made in conjunction with officers of the Crime Intelligence Division of the South African Police Service and Postbank’s Forensic Investigating Team.
Mahoko allegedly offered an individual a bribe amounting to R1,5 million in return for confidential information which would have compromised the integrity of Postbank’s banking system.
The suspect had been evading the Hawks for nearly two years. His evasion was in relation to the hacking of Postbank’s banking system in 2012, and the subsequent loss of R420 million. A case of fraud was registered and his suspected accomplices were convicted and jailed.
The jailed men, 30-year-old Boy Meshack Thekiso, 41-year-old David Moorosi Motsoane and 40-year-old Teboho Sebusa Donald Masoleng are currently serving their sentences.
Thekiso was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment and Motsoane and Masoleng to 15 years’ imprisonment each.
Today, Mahoko appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on charges of corruption and conspiracy to commit fraud. The case was postponed to 2 July 2014 for a formal bail application. More charges are to follow.
