Cape Town - A Cape Town man who tried to pay for groceries with a cloned bank card is expected to plead guilty in plea-bargain proceedings later this month, the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville heard on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Denver Combrink said Moegamat Farouk Martin, 42, of Lansdowne in Cape Town, would probably plead guilty on December 11
to 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 fake bank cards were in circulation.
The prosecutor alleges that Martin was 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.
Martin remained in custody.
Sapa