15 arrested, including police, in connection to multi-million police car branding fraud

South African police service have arrested 15 people which includes both serving and ex-police officers.

Nine of the suspects were former and current police members.

These people were arrested in connection with fraud, corruption, money laundering and theft.

They were accused of being involved in dodgy supply chain processes over a R56m car marking tender.

According to SAPS spokesperson, Brig Vishnu Naidoo said the accused were arrested between 9.30am on Friday and 1.30pm on Saturday.

“The arrest of these 15 suspects over this past weekend brings the total to 31 accused in connection with the multimillion-rand police vehicle marking case.”

“This after 16 accused, including a retired police general, senior and junior officers as well as suppliers, were arrested on June 4 this year.

“The latest 15 accused have all been charged yesterday [Saturday] and they are to appear for the first time in the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Monday on charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and theft,” Naidoo said.

He explained that the suspects were allegedly involved in “manipulation of procurement documents for the branding of vehicles, and a host of other transactions”.

following their appearance on Monday, the 15 suspects are expected to join the other16 co-accused in court on September 29.

However, the 16 suspects that were initially arrested are currently out on bail.

The police also made it known that one Linda Lubanyana is also connected with this case.

They call on the public with any information on him or his whereabouts to be reported to the police, either by calling the Crime Stop number on 086 00 10111 or via the MySAPSApp.