Five suspects made their first court appearance in the Prince Albert Magistrates’ Court earlier today (27 May) in connection with an alleged illicit learner drivers scam involving former traffic officials of Prince Albert and driving school owners from the Eastern Cape.
This follows the arrest of nine suspects on 18 February 2022 in Oudtshoorn as part of an investigation by the Western Cape Police and Department of Transport.
The investigation team arresyed the five suspect yesterday in Cradock, Queen’s Town, Humansdorp and Beaufort-West. They include a former traffic chief in Prins Albert, a traffic official and three driving school owners from the Eastern Cape.
According to Capt Malcolm Pojie, Southern Cape police spokesperson, the arrests followed thorough investigation by the investigation team determined to get to the bottom of an organized syndicate whereby learner drivers licences were issued to applicants in return for gratification.
The five suspects between the ages 26 and 57 were granted bail of R3 000 each with conditions not to interfere with state witnesses. The matter was remanded to 19 July 2022 for further investigation.