IDENTITY THEFT SUSPECT REMANDED IN CUSTODY

IDENTITY THEFT SUSPECT REMANDED IN CUSTODY

Crime

IDENTITY THEFT SUSPECT REMANDED IN CUSTODY

MPUMALANGA: A 31-year-old allegedly born in South Africa by a Zimbabwean father and Mozambican mother made a brief court appearance before Kwamhlanga Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 16 May 2025.

The suspect, Alfred Ubissi, was arrested by the Hawks Middelburg based Serious Corruption Investigation after the warrant of arrest was issued against him.

His arrest follows the arrest of his accomplice, Violet Mabena, at her workplace at the Department of Home Affairs Kwamhlanga.

Ubissi allegedly approached Mabena to arrange an identity document for him as he was born of parents from two different foreign neighboring countries.

The two parties entered into an agreement, and the Home Affairs employee put a price tag of R20 000 to finalise the deal.

According to information, the Home Affairs official arrived at the suspect’s residential place with the fingerprints form and inkpad, took the suspect’s fingerprints, and completed the names reflecting on the birth certificate belonging to an unknown person to the suspect. It is alleged that after fingerprints were taken, Mabena was paid R3 000.

Four months later, in December 2021, Mabena came to the suspect’s place with the identity document bearing the suspect’s photo, but somebody else’s names and surname.

The Hawks received information from a reliable source, and an investigation was instituted with led the court issuing the warrant of arrest against Mabena.

Mabena was arrested at her workplace on 11 November 2024 and appeared before Kwamhlanga Magistrate’s Court on the same day where she was released on R3 000 bail.

An intense investigation led the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the suspect. The suspect was arrested and charged for fraud and corruption on Thursday, 15 May 2025. He is expected to appear before Kwamhlanga Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 16 May 2025.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga Major General Nico Gerber is pleased with the professional investigation conducted and believes that justice will be served. We will not tolerate corruption in whatever form and will perserve in ensuring justice is served.

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