Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Western Cape and an expert in extradition, Advocate Dave Damerell, Michael Burgin from the Secret Service, Advocate Robin Lewis and Ultrich Kruger from the Secret Service.
Photo: NPA
Cape Town advocate awarded by US Secret Service for nailing SA’s top scammers
Advocate Lewis was awarded for nabbing SA’s top scammers who are part of the Black Axe and were recently listed by the FBI in the USA.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Western Cape and an expert in extradition, Advocate Dave Damerell, Michael Burgin from the Secret Service, Advocate Robin Lewis and Ultrich Kruger from the Secret Service.
Photo: NPA
Advocate Robin Lewis from Cape Town has been awarded a medal by the United State of America Secret Service for his work on the case against members of South Africa’s top scammers, the Black Axe syndicate.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently listed the top scammers who are suspected of running international wide-scale fraud.
SA ADVOCATE AWARDED FOR NAILING TOP SCAMMERS
Perry Osagiede, Enorense Izevbiege, Franklin Edosa Osagiede, Osariemen Eric Clement, Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, Musa Mudashiru, Prince Ibeabuchi Mark and Toritseju Gabriel Otubu are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.
The men are part of the Black Axe syndicate which is a violent mafia-style gang in Nigeria linked to murder and fraud. It has infiltrated the country’s political system and launched a global scamming operation well beyond Nigeria’s borders. They defrauded unsuspecting women for almost $7million (roughly R102 550 000) by pretending to be rich men based in America.
ALSO READ: Here are South Africa’s top scammers listed by the FBI
Upon receiving the award Advocate Lewis who grew up in Heideveld and Athlone in Cape Town acknowledged other officials who assisted him to nail the suspects.
“I was awarded by the US Secret Service for the work I have done on the Black Axe case. Although I was awarded, I received a significant amount of assistance and guidance from Advocate Badenhorst. He played a key role in the matter, as did Colonel De Wee, Mr Klaasen from the Department of Home Affairs and Warrant Officer Van der Heever from Interpol.
“The matter is ongoing, they wanted to thank me and other officials mentioned for the work we have done thus far.”
Advocate Lewis
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell, welcomed the award. Bell said it is a recognition of the hard work put into the case by Adv. Lewis and other partners in ensuring that justice is delivered for the victim of these crimes.
The case against the scammers is set for 30 March 2022, for a further extradition hearing.
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