Durban – Former police spokesman Vincent Mdunge's bid to overturn his fraud and forgery convictions was dismissed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday.
Both National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson-Kara confirmed that Mdunge's appeal had been unsuccessful as did Mdunge's lawyer Yusuf Omar.
In 2014, the Durban Regional Court convicted Mdunge of forgery for allegedly presenting a fake matric certificate to gain promotion in the police force and to gain entrance to do further studies at the University of South Africa (Unisa). Mdunge, 50, was convicted on a count of fraud for receiving a salary to which he was not entitled.
The rank that can be obtained without a matric certificate is that of warrant officer. Mdunge had attained the rank of colonel at the time he was charged.
He was also found guilty of fraud for submitting his forged matric certificate to the Unisa to obtain admission to a National Diploma in Police Administration course, which he subsequently completed.
Omar did not immediately say whether Mdunge would be appealing to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. He is currently out on R5000 bail and faces a five-year jail term.