Man arrested for paying for R550 fuel using counterfeit money

A man has been arrested for allegedly using counterfeit money to pay for fuel at a petrol station in Pietermartizburg.

The suspect paid for fuel using five counterfeit R100 notes

The man allegedly visited a petrol station in Victoria Road on Tuesday last week. He was driving a white Toyota and paid R550 for the fuel. Magma Security stated that the suspect allegedly used five counterfeit R100 notes to pay for the fuel before driving off.

The security company stated that following this their team began searching for the vehicle the man accused of paying with counterfeit money used. On Sunday, 24 July, an officer from Magma Security noticed the vehicle parked at another petrol station on Armitage Road.

He allegedly admitted to the crime after being questioned

The officer proceeded to call for backup.

“On Sunday 24 July 2022 at about 00:15 Magma Security reaction officer noticed the above vehicle parked at Caltex Garage at Armitage Road. The member immediately blocked off parking space behind said vehicle and called for back up,”

said Magma Security.

The man was questioned and allegedly admitted to the offence. The suspect and the vehicle were handed over to the SAPS and he was detained.

SAPS confirms investigations are ongoing

IOL reports that SAPS KZN spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala revealed a case of theft is being investigated by the SAPS in Pietermartizburg.

“It is alleged that on 19 July 2022 at 07:15, a vehicle driven by an unknown man arrived at a service station on Victoria Road in Pietermaritzburg to fill up petrol. The petrol attendant noticed that the money that was used to pay was fake money,”

said SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala.

Counterfeit goods worth R15m confiscated at Pan Africa and Joburg Malls

In related news, it was previously reported that the police in Gauteng confiscated counterfeit goods worth millions from two popular shopping centres in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 15 June. Five suspects were arrested in the multidisciplinary operation.

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the Johannesburg District Police conducted a raid in conjunction with SARS Customs Services, Brand Protectors, EMS, HELP 24, the South African Pharmaceutical Regulator, American Homeland Investigators from the US Embassy, Fidelity Reaction Unit, BCI and Public Order Policing.

The raid hit shops at the Pan Africa Mall and Joburg Mall at the corner of Jeppe and Troye Street. Mbele said fabrics and consumer goods were seized while the pharmaceutical regulators confiscated large quantities of skin creams and other products that can only be obtained with a prescription. Read the full story here.