A 44-year-old illegal immigrant has been sentenced to six years in prison for fraud after using another person’s South African identity document to secure employment at a quarry in the Kareepoort area of Brits, North West.
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Illegal immigrant to spend 6 years behind bars
Arlindo Fernando Timane was convicted after an investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) uncovered that he had worked at the quarry for approximately six years using another person’s identity document.
“The court heard evidence that the 44-year-old suspect, Arlindo Fernando Timane, secured employment at a quarry in the Kareepoort area of Brits using a South African identity document belonging to another person,” said North West police spokesperson Colonel Anne Magakoe.
The fraud was eventually uncovered when the legitimate ID holder approached SARS to submit his tax returns and was informed of an undisclosed source of income linked to an employer he had never worked for.
The matter was subsequently reported to SAPS Brits, prompting an investigation into how the identity document had been used.
During the investigation, fingerprint verification conducted with the Department of Home Affairs established that Timane was not the legitimate holder of the identity document. Further investigations also established his nationality, resulting in an additional charge under Section 49 of the Immigration Act, Act 13 of 2002.
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Crucial evidence leads to arrest
Police said Timane had earned approximately R900,000 in salary during the six years he worked for the company.
“The comprehensive investigation strengthened the case and assisted the National Prosecuting Authority in presenting the matter before court,” Magakoe said.
The Bojanala Sub-District 1 Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, together with various role players, obtained evidence from the company’s Human Resources and Finance departments, SARS and the legitimate ID holder, who was traced to Mpumalanga.
The evidence ultimately helped secure Timane’s conviction and six-year prison sentence for fraud.
North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Adams warned individuals who use fraudulent means or another person’s identity to obtain employment or financial benefits that such conduct would not be tolerated.
“Those who deliberately abuse official identity documents to defraud individuals, businesses or the state will face the full might of the law,” Adams warned.
Adams also commended the investigators and other stakeholders for their diligent work in uncovering the fraudulent scheme and securing a successful prosecution.
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