EAST LONDON – Arshad Mohamed (39), a wanted man by the Hawks, made his first appearance before the East London Magistrate court on Wednesday for fraud amounting to R12 million. Mohamed was arrested last week Thursday by the Serious Commercial Crime unit of the Hawks at the O.R. Tambo International Airport.
The Hawks circulated Mohamed as soon as he tried to enter the country at check in points at the airport. The airport officials notified the Hawks who then arrested him.
It is alleged that Mohamed is an accomplice of Enver Mohamed (52) and Ali Soomer (54) who were both found guilty during May 2016 by the East London Regional court for Fraud. Enver Mohamed was sentenced to 20-years imprisonment while Soomer was sentenced to pay a fine of R 1 million. They were arrested by Serious Commercial Crime in 2010.
From approximately 2007 Enver Mohamed and Soomer recruited a number of South Africans, who were originally foreign nationals, to open companies and bank accounts. These companies and bank accounts were registered in the names of those who were recruited. It is alleged that Arshad Mohamed is one the people who were recruited and opened companies and bank accounts.
These companies traded with each other in terms of invoices, no cash was used. Between the years 2007 and 2009 the companies then submitted false Value Added Tax (VAT) returns to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). During this period SARS paid out a total of R12 million to these companies.
The money paid to the companies’ bank accounts would then be transferred into Enver Mohamed’s bank account who would then transfer it into various accounts including Soomer’s bank account.
Arshad Mohamed will re-appear before the East London Magistrate court on Friday for a formal bail application.
Hawks investigations into this case are continuing and more arrests are expected.
Enquiries: Captain Anelisa Feni on 071 481 3251
