Cloned card shopper in court

A waiter who allegedly cloned bank cards of restaurant guests appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

A waiter who allegedly cloned bank cards of restaurant guests appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

Published Dec 11, 2013

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Cape Town - A Cape Town man who tried to pay for groceries with a cloned bank card appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday, a court official said.

The case against Moegamat Farouk Martin, 42, from Lansdowne, in Cape Town, was postponed until January 21, because his lawyer was not available, the official said. He remained in custody.

At his previous appearance on December 4, prosecutor Denver Combrink said Martin would probably plead guilty on Wednesday to charges of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

Martin was arrested on August 12 when he tried to pay for groceries worth R13 811 at the Pick n Pay, in Kenilworth, Cape Town.

Kenilworth branch manager John Lendoor was told Martin's credit card payment had been declined.

Store managers had been warned that fraudulent bank cards were in circulation. Martin was allegedly found in possession of a grey Master Card, supposedly issued by the Bank of America.

Lendoor recognised the card as counterfeit and alerted the police. An investigation revealed that the card was issued by Europay Belgium SCRL.

Martin is also charged with violating the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.

At his first appearance last month, Combrink told the court Martin had been refused bail by the Bellville District Court. He said he had already informed defence counsel N Jaftha of the sentence that would be acceptable to the State.

If Martin disagreed with the proposed sentence, plea negotiations would collapse and the State would proceed to trial in the normal manner.

Sapa

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