20 June 2025
Seven suspects alleged to be part of a syndicate linked to issuing false passports will return to a Durban court on Friday.
The group was arrested on Saturday.
Its alleged they ran an illegal operation between February 2020 and July 2023.
The accused will return to the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court to have legal representative appointed and to apply for bail.
The State alleges that one of the accused, a former Home Affairs official, worked with the syndicate in the processing of fraudulent passports.
They face charges of fraud, contravention of the Identification Act, diverse contravention of the Immigration Act, and corruption.
The crimes are alleged to have taken place after business hours, in the evenings, over weekends, and public holidays.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the fraudulent passports were issued to undeserving foreign nationals.
Source: EWN
