Hawks says fraud-related arrests top list of crimes
The Hawks say of the arrests they have made between July and September, fraud suspects top the group.
The unit's head Godfrey Lebeya says they also seized various items including precious metals and diamonds, endangered species, vehicles and explosives.
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He says the seizures amount to over R92 million.
"This led to the arrest of at least 801 suspects nationally in the quarter, which is made of 791 natural persons and 10 juristic persons who were secured before the various courts across the country.
"Two hundred and forty-four accused persons, which is made of 234 natural persons and 10 juristic persons were convicted and sentenced.
"The top five national priority offences that contributed a high number of arrests are 173 for fraud, 172 for precious metals and diamonds, 52 for narcotics, 48 for cash-in-transit robberies, and 37 for corruption.”
