EASTERN CAPE: – Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court convicted and sentenced Jerome Makoatle (39) on 26 July 2023 for charges of petrol card fraud.
On 23 September 2021, a petrol attendant working at Meyers Caltex Garage in Mthatha was serving a client driving a white Mahindra bakkie towing a diesel tanker with an MP registration plate. The driver handed a fuel card to the petrol attendant who swiped the card before filling the diesel into the tanker. He then started to fill up the diesel for an amount of R9000.00.
While busy filling up the tanker he was stopped by the Manager as it transpired from Standard Bank Division that the driver used a cloned card and the same card was already used in another filling station in Mthatha. Makoatle fled the scene on foot when he was called inside the garage for questioning. He left the bakkie and the tanker in the garage unattended.
The matter was referred to Mthatha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks for intensive probing. He was traced and arrested at Mlazi Township in Durban on 18 August 2022.
Makoatle made numerous court appearances in Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court until 26 July 2023 where he pleaded guilty to fraud charges due to the overwhelming evidence. He was sentenced to pay a fine of R15 000 or undergo six (6) months direct imprisonment.
The Mthatha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team is lauded by the Provincial Head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya for the success.