A Fraud case against three suspects from Free State province was postponed until Tuesday by Taung Magistrate’s Court.

Mojalefa Springkan (30), Kgosana Tladi (49) and David Mokonyane (52) were arrested three weeks ago in Taung by South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence in partnership with Taung Police Station cluster for card-skimming.

Magistrate Olaotswe Bojosinyana heard how suspects allegedly defrauded unsuspecting victims their hard-earned cash at the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) across Dr Ruth Mompati district. The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Kagiso Phemelo was cross-examined and explained how the suspects were eventually arrested. Phemelo said the suspects were followed by crime intelligence police from Vryburg to Taung after a tip-off.

“The suspects allegedly robbed another woman her sassa card at Pudimoe complex in Pudimoe Location, near Taung. Police followed the suspects until Taung Mall where they were allegedly stopped and searched. The police found loads of various bank cards in their possession.

“The suspects were arrested and police confiscated the vehicle that was used during the commission of crime. Two of the suspects who took the stand previously committed various accounts of fraud cases,” he said.

Phemelo also told the court that first accused in this case, Mokonyane has six cases against him such as malicious damage to property, common assault and fraud. He added that the suspect has also lied to court after he alleged that his passport has expired.

“I have obtained the details of Mr Mokonyane’s passport and it expires in 2018. The suspect is a former police officer and he is unemployed. He is a flight risk because he once visited his family in Lesotho. It will be perilous to grant him bail because the society will also lose hope in the justice system.

“I still need more time to obtain statements from the people who their cards were found in possession of the suspects. Some of them do not stay around Taung and it will be difficult to trace the suspect if he is granted bail. Two of the suspects have a pending fraud case against them at Ficksburg in Free State province. They were supposed to be in court on the 4^th of October 2017, however, they were arrested a day before their court date in Taung for fraud,” he said.

Phemelo also told the court that there were other cases opened against the suspects for card-skimming after some of victims came forward and positively identified them as perpetrators.

Bojosinyana postponed the matter until Tuesday because of time constraints.

Taung Police Station cluster spokesperson, Sergeant Tebogo Thebe said: “We have increased police visibility in Taung CBD. We urged bank users to be wary of criminals because we have realised that card-skimming operators ascend to our areas ahead of festive season.

“We are working together with other law enforcement agencies to curb this criminal activities. There are many fraud cases being reported thus far and we will work tirelessly in arresting the perpetrators. The majority of card-skimming incidents in South Africa are recorded around ATMs and, to a lesser extent, at retail merchants when bank cards are presented for payments.”

He further said card users should never give their card to someone at an ATM for any reason. Thebe added that the card users should never let anyone assist them at an ATM, even if they appear to be a bank official or security personnel.

“Beware of people standing close to you when you are concluding transactions at an ATM. Ensure you hide your pin when keying it into an ATM and never use an ATM that looks tampered with or damaged. Card users must always use an ATM in a well-lit area or use an ATM that is monitored by a CCTV camera if possible,” Thebe said.-Newsote