ADDITIONAL SUSPECTS ARRESTED ON DROP-SAFE FRAUD CASE
Ripon Younus (33) and Ashraf Gulammahad Patel (34) both Bangladesh nationals made a brief appearance before Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crime on 30 November 2023. The duo was arrested by Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team on allegations money laundering as the recipients of proceeds of crime.
Allegations are that between 1 March 2023 and 3 March 2023, the main accused tampered with a drop – safe used at their shop. They allegedly dropped an amount of R560 000 repeatedly thereby making their drop-safe app account linked to the safe to be credited with approximately R11 million. The R11 million was immediately transferred to different bank accounts locally and offshore.
Both accused persons joined their counterparts who were arrested on 3 March 2023 on the same charges, the pair (main suspects) remains in custody after their bail application was denied, an additional suspect is expected to be arrested in due course to bring the total number to five arrests.
Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crime granted both accused bail of R20 000 each, and the case was postponed to 1 February 2024 for all 5 accused to appear together.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Northern Cape Major General Steven Mabuela congratulated the team for their persistence in this investigation and looks forward to a conviction.
