Woman caught withdrawing cash from 15 Sassa cards

Picture: David Ritchie/ANA Pictures

Picture: David Ritchie/ANA Pictures

Published Sep 4, 2017

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Kimberley - An alleged card thief was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Unit in Barkly West after she was found in possession of an assortment of social grant and Easy Pay cards as well as cash that she had allegedly withdrawn from the cardholder’s accounts.

Hawks spokesperson, Captain Philani Nkwalase, said the 44-year-old woman was arrested while she was allegedly withdrawing money from her clients’ accounts to the value of R7 230. She was caught while using 15 cards at an ATM machine in Barkly West on August 31.

“She was charged for contravening the National Credit Act and was released on free police bail. She is due to appear in the Barkly West Magistrate’s Court on September 29,” said Nkwalase.

In similar incidents, six loan sharks recently pleaded guilty in separate cases after they were also charged with contravening the National Credit Act.

Nkwalase stated that Johannes Sebastian Bernado, 45, and Adri Bernado, 40, were arrested in Hartswater on May 31, after they were found in possession of 119 cards and R58 300 in cash.

“The accused were each fined R15 000 or imprisonment of 12 months.”

Johanna Cornelia van Deventer, 69, was ordered to pay a R5 000 fine or serve a six-month sentence, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence.

Nkwalase said she was sentenced in the Hartswater Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to the theft of five Sassa cards and R6 320 cash.

Eric Swenson, 69, and Petrus Strydom, 26, were fined R15 000 or an alternative of six months imprisonment, also in the Hartswater Magistrate’s Court, after they pleaded guilty to being in possession of 144 Sassa cards and R24 150 in cash.

Wilhelmina Swart, 65, was fined R5 000 or six months imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years with conditions attached.

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