In a recent development, two Bangladesh nationals, Ripon Younus (33) and Ashraf Gulammahad Patel (34), have been apprehended by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team on allegations of money laundering.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation released a media statement on 1 December 2023, shedding light on the case.The accused made a brief appearance before the Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crime court on 30 November 2023.
The charges stem from their alleged involvement in tampering with a drop-safe used at their shop between 1 March 2023 and 3 March 2023.According to the authorities, the main accused orchestrated a scheme wherein they repeatedly dropped an amount of R560,000 into the drop-safe.
This led to their drop-safe app account being credited with approximately R11 million. The ill-gotten gains were swiftly transferred to various local and offshore bank accounts.
Notably, Younus and Patel join their counterparts, who were arrested on 3 March 2023, facing the same charges. The main suspects remain in custody after their bail application was denied, and an additional suspect is anticipated to be arrested soon, bringing the total number of arrests to five.
During the court proceedings, Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crime granted bail to both accused individuals, setting it at R20,000 each. The case has been postponed to 1 February 2024, where all five accused are expected to appear together.
Major General Steven Mabuela, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Northern Cape, commended the investigative team for their persistent efforts in uncovering the fraudulent activities. He expressed optimism about a successful conviction as the legal proceedings move forward.