NORTH WEST — A 44-year-old irregular migrant has been sentenced to six years in prison after a prolonged identity fraud scheme in Brits saw him use another person’s South African national identity document to secure and hold down a quarry job for roughly six years, pocketing an estimated R900 000 in salary along the way.
The convicted man, identified as Arlindo Fernando Timane, obtained employment at a quarry in the Kareepoort area of Brits by presenting a South African ID that belonged to someone else, the court heard. He remained on the company’s payroll for the full duration of the deception, drawing a regular wage under the stolen identity.
How the fraud unravelled at SARS
The scheme collapsed only when the legitimate holder of the identity document visited the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to file his tax returns. He was alerted to an undisclosed source of income tied to an employer he had never worked for. The discrepancy prompted him to report the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Brits, triggering a formal investigation.
Fingerprint verification carried out in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Timane was not the rightful holder of the identity document. Further probing established his true nationality, leading to an additional charge under Section 49 of the Immigration Act, Act 13 of 2002.
Multi-agency investigation builds the case
The Bojanala Sub-District 1 Commercial Crime Investigation Unit spearheaded the inquiry, gathering evidence from the employer’s Human Resources and Finance departments, SARS records, and the legitimate ID holder, who was traced to Mpumalanga. The collaborative effort strengthened the prosecution file and enabled the National Prosecuting Authority to present a comprehensive case before the court.
Provincial commissioner issues stern warning
SAPS North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Adams warned that individuals who resort to fraudulent means or assume another person’s identity to obtain employment or financial benefits will face the full force of the law. He stressed that the deliberate abuse of official identity documents to defraud individuals, businesses, or the state would not be tolerated.
Lieutenant General Adams also commended every role player involved in uncovering the scheme and securing the successful prosecution, describing the outcome as proof of the value of thorough investigation and inter-agency cooperation in combating identity-related fraud.
Timane will serve his six-year sentence for fraud, with the immigration charge reflecting the broader legal consequences of his actions.
Â
Â