Bloemfontein – Four men have appeared in the Allanridge Magistrate's Court in the Free State on charges of fraud, after they were collared by an off-duty police officer at the weekend.
Daniel Motseki Nkomo, 53, Vuyani Edwin Tshuta, 26, Khopolo Unifas Mokheseng, 38, and Joseph Selemela Noha, 41, all from Thabong, had allegedly been preying on unsuspecting victims drawing money from ATM machines.
Police spokesman Captain Stephen Thakeng said on Thursday that a victim had been drawing money in Nyakallong when he was approached by a man who offered to assist him. He was unable to draw money and returned home where he discovered his bank card had been swopped.
On his way to report the incident, he met Constable Dillane Madia, who was off-duty at the time.
Thakeng said the victim described the suspects' vehicle. "Constable Madia immediately reacted and followed a Ford Fiesta motor vehicle, purple in colour, with four occupants.
Luckily there was an operation conducted by members of Traffic Department at the R30 road who stopped the vehicle."
One of the suspects allegedly pretended to relieve himself and discarded a number of bank cards, including the complainant's, but these were recovered and the suspects arrested.
The men are expected back in court on March 8 for a bail application.