A possible syndicate operating with fraudulent documents was stopped in its tracks by Saldanha Bay Municipality’s Vredenburg Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLCT).The centre opened a fraud case on Thursday 5 November against four applicants who submitted fraudulent proof of addresses, when they applied for learner licences and professional driving permits.
The testing officer noticed the documents submitted by the applicants were the same bank statements, cellular phone and clothing retailer accounts with different personal details, such as names, surnames and addresses. One applicant attempted to schedule a learner’s licence appointment with two different bank institutions’ statements. This was immediately reported to management, the suspect was pursued and found in a white station wagon outside the Weskus Mall with eight occupants inside.The municipality’s Law Enforcement department and the Vredenburg Police Station were contacted to assist.
The suspects were apprehended and accompanied to the Traffic Department, where the police took statements from Craig Barends, Examiner of Driving Licences, and Gordon Swarts, Deputy Chief of Registration and Licensing. The suspects were then transported to the Vredenburg Police Station for detention.The Traffic Department monitored suspicious activities after a sudden increase in Cape Town applicants was noticed at the Vredenburg DLTC, applying specifically for professional driving permits (PDP).
The applicants obtained their driving licences from testing centres outside the Western Cape. It is unclear whether the forged documents had come from a single source. This will form part of the police investigation.Saldanha Bay Municipality reminds the public that obtaining and submitting fraudulent documents is illegal, and can lead to imprisonment.
