A bogus home affairs employee was arrested in Secunda for allegedly colluding with two Ethiopian nationals in passport fraud and theft , the Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) said.
The arrest comes after a tip-off was received that Lindiwe Kubheka, 45, was allegedly working with two Ethiopian nationals, Abdo Mustefu Musa, 44, and Mike Alex Abete, 38, to stamp expired passports.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said after the information was received, an undercover operation was initiated and Abete was paid R20,000 to stamp expired passports .
An agreement was reached for the collection of the stamped passports but Abete did not honour the agreement, said Sekgotodi.
A warrant of arrest as well as a search-and-seizure were authorised then subsequently executed on Monday, September 16, 2024.
