A bogus home affairs employee was arrested in Secunda for allegedly colluding with two Ethiopian nationals in passport fraud and theft, the Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) said.

The arrest comes after a tip-off was received that Lindiwe Kubheka, 45, was allegedly working with two Ethiopian nationals, Abdo Mustefu Musa, 44, and Mike Alex Abete, 38, to stamp expired passports.

Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said after the information was received, an undercover operation was initiated and Abete was paid R20,000 to stamp expired passports.

“An agreement was reached for the collection of the stamped passports but Abete did not honour the agreement,” said Sekgotodi.

“A warrant of arrest as well as a search-and-seizure were authorised then subsequently executed on Monday, September 16, 2024.”

Sekgotodi said that during the search, police found a large amount of documents from the department of home affairs as well as the department of transport.

“The documents will be handed to the departments for analysis.”

During questioning, Abete disclosed that the R20,000 and passports were given to Musa and when Musa was approached, he admitted to receiving passports and R5,000 from Abete which he then handed to Kubheka.

Kubheka was approached and she told police that she only received passports and R2,500.

“The team conducted a search and seizure operation and three passports were found as well as seized,” said Sekgotodi.

Sekgotodi said the trio appeared before the Eerstehoek Magistrate’s Court at Elukwatini on Tuesday and were released on R3,000 bail each.

They are expected back in court on November 5, 2024.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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