By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
14 May 2025- The Northern Cape High Court in Kimberly, granted Hawks Asset Forfeiture Investigation and National Prosecuting Authority‘s Asset Forfeiture Unit a forfeiture order worth R1.6 million against Mahdi Aki (51) on Tuesday. It is alleged that, during January 2024, members of Public Order Policing acted on information and went to conduct a search and seizure at an identified premises, in the presence of the suspect, the police found two bags of undisclosed amount of money, later when they counted the amount came to R1.6 million.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said Akil could not account for that money. Thebe said the matter was therefore referred to the Hawks Asset Forfeiture Investigation, together with the Asset Forfeiture Unit for further investigation, which resulted in the successful granting of a forfeiture order.
“In an unrelated matter, Upington Regional Court found Samson Vusi Dlamini (42) guilty of dealing in drugs and corruption. The conviction came after police searched bags of a truck driver and his passenger at Nakop border between South Africa and Namibia in May 2023.
“The passenger, a Kingdom of Eswatini national, was found with what was later found to be drugs. During questioning, he later admitted to attempting to smuggle drugs and offered the police officer a bribe of R2000,” he said.
Thebe further said Upington based members of Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team were called to the scene and subsequently took over the investigation. He added that the suspect was charged for possession of drugs and bribery and remained in custody for the duration of the trial.
“On Tuesday, the Upington Regional Court found him guilty and his case was postponed to 28 May 2025 for sentencing proceedings,” said Thebe.
Meanwhile, in appreciating the work done by South African Police Services (SAPS) members, the Provincial Head of Northern Cape Hawks Major General Stephen Molefi Mabuela said: “Collaborations when fighting crime always bring results, we just have to continue to strengthen those relationships” concluded the general.”
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