A 49-year-old man, who is already in custody at St Albans Prison in Port Elizabeth, has been charged by the Serious Commercial Crime unit of the Hawks as the 13th suspect of an alleged ATM card swopping syndicate.
The man, who is in prison for an unrelated case , was charged last week Wednesday with Fraud and is expected to make his first appearance before the New Law court in Port Elizabeth in January 2017.
It is alleged that in 2015, the suspect, together with Luthando Ngesi (20), Linda Aba (36), Simpiwe Bulelani Twalo (27), Bruce Lee Mawela (38), Luthando Mfini (29), Lazola Mjekula (30), Sandile Sicolo (34), Ntsikelelo Giba (56), Mzimkhulu Mqaba (47), Caroline Bundwini (42), Siviwe Mpapela (24) and Lungile Anthony Billy (41), conducted ATM card swopping at various ATM machines around Port Elizabeth.
The first suspect to be arrested was Ngesi on 3 December 2015. The last suspect who was arrested was Billy, who was arrested in November 2016.
The Hawks in the Eastern Cape have cautioned the public to be extra vigilant during the festive season as it is during this time that ATM card-swooping crimes are most prevalent.