Scammed: Woman loses R423,000 in fake forex scheme promising R700,000
Mokgokane Isaac Kabini, 41, was arrested at the Groblersbridge port of entry while allegedly attempting to cross into Botswana and remains in custody pending a formal bail application.
Image: Hawks
A 41-year-old man arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in connection with a R423,000 forex investment scam has had his case postponed for a formal bail application.
Mokgokane Isaac Kabini was arrested at the Groblersbridge port of entry on Wednesday while allegedly attempting to cross into Botswana.
According to Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Captain Lethunya Mmuroa, the arrest followed an intensive investigation by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.
“It is alleged that during August 2019, a woman who called herself ‘Queen’ recruited the victim to invest money into a forex trading investment. After a presentation, the victim was provided with banking details and deposited R423,000 on three occasions, expecting to withdraw more than R700,000 in October 2019,” Mmuroa said.
She said when the investment term lapsed, the victim attempted to contact the alleged recruiter to withdraw the funds, but the phone was switched off.
“The complainant became suspicious and reported the matter to police in Ohrigstad. The case was later transferred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Phalaborwa for further investigation,” Mmuroa said.
Investigators allegedly established that the money had been deposited into Kabini’s bank account, linking him to the crime. A manhunt was launched until his arrest at the border post.
Kabini appeared in the Praktizeer Magistrate’s Court, where the matter was postponed to February 26 for a formal bail application. He faces charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.
The acting provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Brigadier Desmond Alexander, applauded the arresting team and appealed to community members to remain vigilant when approached with investment opportunities promising unusually high returns.
The Hawks have indicated that more arrests are imminent as investigations continue.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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