Licensing authorities implicated in vehicle cloning scam
Seven employees have been implicated in a vehicle cloning syndicate at the Rand West City Registration Authority in Westonaria, west of Johannesburg.
It is alleged that stolen vehicles have been re-re-registered, using the information of similar vehicles that are legally on the road and properly licensed.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, accommodated the police during the search and seizure operation at the center early on Wednesday morning.
Vadi says police and members of the Insurance Crime Bureau uncovered fraudulent transactions in the vehicle registration processes.
"Due to the investigations, the Centre will remain closed to the public until further notice," says Vadi.
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Vadi adds it's suspected that the implicated officials are working with alleged criminal syndicates.
"Vehicle documents are brought here, allegedly by some parties and they are processed and stolen vehicles are then legitimized and then brought into the public domain,"
Vadi says the vehicles are then sold to unsuspecting individuals.
"Only to find when you are then stopped at a roadblock, the vehicle is registered as a stolen vehicle nad impounded."
Vadi says as soon as the investigation is concluded, the seven implicated official will be charged.
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