Eskom helps police arrest suspects for selling illegal electricity
Five suspects were arrested in Rustenburg on Thursday (30 September) for selling illegal pre-paid electricity. The suspects range between the ages of 36 and 47 years.
The SAPS confirmed that the operation arrests were led by the North West’s Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Bethlehem in the Free State in concert with Eskom investigators.
“Five suspects aged between 36 and 47 were arrested in the early hours of today in Rustenburg, North West province by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Bethlehem for selling illegal pre-paid electricity,” Police captain Captain Christopher Singo said.
The arrests form part of an investigation program, launched in May 2020, to nab illegal traders of pre-paid electricity. The program came after the discovery of illegal or “ghost vending” machines that produce pre-paid electricity for selling.
“Their arrests were effected during the third phase of the project-driven investigation carried out by the Hawks in Free State in concert with Eskom Investigators. This project-driven investigation began in May 2020 in Bloemfontein, Free State probing the illicit sale of electricity facilitated by illegal vendors who have in their possession illegal electricity vending machines. ‘Ghost vending’ involves the illegal sales and purchases of electricity.”
The suspects will appear at Fochville’s Magistrates Court on Friday, 1 October 2021.
Sources: MSN, SAPS
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