The Pretoria Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) Unit has successfully executed a warrant of arrest for a wanted fraudster who was apprehended in KwaZulu-Natal.
Musa Kache Chungupengu, 41, was arrested on Saturday in connection with a “significant” fraud case dating back to 2018.
According to Captain Lloyd Ramovha, Gauteng spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks on April 19, 2018, a complainant received an email purportedly from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Pretoria to supply 200 boxes of Pure Azoxy pesticide.
“The complainant found a supplier, San Marino Trading in Eastern Cape, and was quoted R296,000.”
After transferring the money to the provided FNB bank account, the items were never delivered.
Chungupengu was initially detained at Golela border gate in KwaZulu-Natal on December 6, 2024.
He was then detained at the Pongola police station.
Chungupengu was later transferred to Gauteng for the court appearance. He appeared before the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria on Monday.
Ramovha said the case was postponed to December 17 for a bail hearing.
Last month, IOL reported that a 43-year-old man, Jonathan Wolpe, appeared before the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court after he was arrested on charges of fraud by the Hawks.
At the time, Ramovha said Wolpe allegedly defrauded R9 million from the unidentified complainant in the matter.
“The Gauteng Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation's serious commercial crime investigation unit (SCCIU) is pleased to announce a significant success in the ongoing fight against fraud and theft,” said Ramovha.
Wolpe, who is a director of United Chartered Flight Services, was then arrested.
“He is implicated in a major fraud case involving over R9 million in a case of fraud, alternatively theft, that was registered at Diepsloot police station, north of Johannesburg, in February 2024,” said Ramovha.
It is alleged that Wolpe, operating under the entity United Chartered Flight Services, fraudulently received payment for charter flights from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to South Africa.
“Despite receiving the funds, the suspect failed to provide the agreed-upon services and instead misappropriated the money for personal use. This fraudulent activity resulted in the complainant suffering a financial loss of R9 million,” said Ramovha.
Wolpe was charged alongside his company.
He appeared before the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday for the initial hearing.
IOL