image:Daily News
Two more people have appeared in court, reportedly involved in a scam involving illegal debit order transactions in which bank consumers lost over R18 million.
Ravenda Singh, 50, and his son Andrew, 26, are the directors of Sub User, a Durban-based call center. They were apprehended in Joburg on Wednesday last week.
“The pair surrendered to the Hawks’ severe commercial crime investigation in Johannesburg and were charged with fraud.” The two appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on the same day and were both granted R30,000 bail, according to Hawks Gauteng spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
The suspects were linked, she claimed, when the banks conducted a forensic examination and uncovered unauthorized debit orders through the suspects’ call-center companies.
“The accused allegedly constructed a fraudulent bank payment system to gather debit orders for contact centers, resulting in unauthorised debit orders,” according to the complaint. Several clients from various banks around the country are claimed to have lost their hard-earned money as a result of the R99 debit order that was fraudulently withdrawn between November 2018 and February 2019,” Mulamu added.
The case against the Singh father and son has been rescheduled until May 27, when they will stand trial alongside their co-defendants Jason Foster, 39, and Richard Marsden, 51. Foster and Marsden were previously arrested and released on R30,000 and R100,000 bail, respectively.
Foster was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in February. Marsden was apprehended at the Cape Town International Airport in October of last year.
Foster and Marsden are also directors of Blue Debit and Talent Base, two Durban-based contact centers.
“The Hawks investigation indicated that the syndicate looted around R248 million from unsuspecting bank clients,” Mulamu added.
Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, the Hawks’ Gauteng provincial commander, praised the investigating team for apprehending the extra suspects.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to any bank customers who have fallen victim to the accused scammers. We are also delighted that the culprits of the deception have been brought to justice,” he added.
“All suspicious criminal acts should be reported to authorities for further investigation.”
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