Akasia scrapyard owner arrested after stripping and disposing of a stolen vehicle

An Akasia, Pretoria scrapyard owner has been arrested and charged with fraud after stripping and disposing of a stolen and recovered vehicle.

This followed an investigation conducted by the National Traffic Anti-Corruption (NTACU) following a complaint lodged by a member of the public who alleged that her vehicle had mysteriously disappeared from the South African Police Service pound in Pretoria West.

The complainant stated that she had gone to the pound after receiving an SMS informing her that the stolen vehicle had been recovered. However, she was shocked when she arrived at the pound and discovered that the vehicle had already been given to the scrapyard owner.

Upon receiving the complaint, members of NTACU contacted the Provincial Head of the SAPS Vehicle Identification Section and Safeguarding and they proceeded to the pound together with the complainant. At the pound, the officer responsible for disposal allegedly admitted that he had released the vehicle without following proper procedure.

The vehicle was then traced and found at a local scrapyard. It had already been stripped and the body cut into two pieces. According to the scrapyard owner, the front end of the vehicle was sold off together with relevant vehicle documents.

He was immediately placed under arrest and the remaining parts of the vehicle were seized and booked at the Pretoria West Vehicle Identification Section and Safeguarding.

An investigation has also been initiated against the SAPS member who released the vehicle without proper procedure. The suspect is expected to appear in court soon.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation welcomes the arrest and calls on citizens to report suspected acts of fraud, corruption, and malfeasance to ntacu@rtmc.co.za or by WhatsApp to 083 293 7989.
 

Akasia scrapyard owner arrested after stripping and disposing of a stolen vehicle https://t.co/t1UliXwNsB#ArriveAlive @TrafficRTMC pic.twitter.com/13mpY8Il4y

— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 7, 2023