‘Forgery factory’ in Joburg flat shut down – five suspects arrested

The suspects allegedly produced counterfeit university certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates from a flat in Marshalltown.

The police pounced on a syndicate that allegedly produced several fraudulent documents from a flat in central Johannesburg. Five suspects were arrested for various charges, including fraud, corruption and bribery.

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SUSPECTS ALLEGEDLY PRODUCED FAKE UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATES, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, AND DEATH CERTIFICATES

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said the police received information about suspects in the Joburg CBD who were committing fraud and corruption in cooperation with Department of Home Affairs officials.

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The suspects produced bogus documents, including university certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates, from a flat in Marshalltown. These documents were allegedly used to commit crimes.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

On Tuesday, 16 May, the authorities acted on the information and raided the flat – they found five men working on laptops and desktop computers. They were also printing documents later identified as Home Affairs documents.

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“Police also found the green Identity Documents marked deceased, passports, and temporary ID documents,” said the police spokesperson.

The five suspects – aged between 39 and 50 – are expected to appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court in due course.

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