Mozambican Man Jailed After Using a Stolen ID to Earn Nearly R1 Million in SA

• Arlindo Fernando Timane, 44, used another person's South African identity document to secure employment at a North West quarry
• The fraud only came to light when the real ID holder visited SARS to file his tax returns and discovered an unknown income source
• Fingerprint verification with the Department of Home Affairs confirmed Timane was not the legitimate holder of the document

SOUTH AFRICA - A 44-year-old Mozambican national has been sentenced to six years behind bars after using a stolen South African identity document to hold down a job and pocket nearly R1 million over six years.

According to IOL, Arlindo Fernando Timane was convicted of fraud after landing work at a quarry in the Kareepoort area near Brits in North West. The identity document he used to secure that employment belonged to a South African citizen who had no idea his details were being used.

SARS visit blows the cover

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The scheme unravelled in the most unexpected way. The rightful owner of the identity document walked into a South African Revenue Service office to file his tax returns, only to be told that his identity number was linked to a second employer he had never set foot in. He immediately reported the matter to the South African Police Service in Brits.

North West police spokesperson Colonel Anne Magakoe said the investigation that followed involved fingerprint verification through the Department of Home Affairs, which confirmed that Timane had no legal claim to the document. Investigators also established that he was a Mozambican citizen, which led to an additional charge under Section 49 of the Immigration Act.

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Multi-agency collaboration secures conviction

The Bojanala Sub-District 1 Commercial Crime Investigation Unit built its case by working closely with the quarry's human resources and finance departments, SARS, and the legitimate identity document holder, who was eventually traced to Mpumalanga. That joint effort, Magakoe said, gave the National Prosecuting Authority the evidence needed to secure a conviction.

"The outcome demonstrates the importance of thorough investigation and collaboration between law enforcement and relevant stakeholders in exposing identity-related fraud," she said.

Timane was sentenced in court last Tuesday. North West provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Arthur Adams said authorities would not tolerate the abuse of official identity documents and that individuals found defrauding citizens, businesses or the state would face the full force of the law.

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Government employs 6000 foreign nationals

Previously,Briefly News reported that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) revealed that the government employs over 6000 foreign nationals. Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mzamo Buthelezi, received a question from ActionSA MP Dr4 Tebogo Letlape. Letlape asked him how many foreign nationals were employed in government.This number comprises 0.5% of the government's workforce, including temporary and permanent employees. Gauteng has the highest number of foreign nationals employed in government, with 1705 workers.

Source: Briefly News