Mbeki name used in 419 scam
2002-10-23 10:05
Cape Town - President Thabo Mbeki, his wife, Zanele, African leaders and well-known South Africans are the latest targets of a 419-fraud scheme suspected to be run by Nigerians.
Their names are being used in a scam designed to mislead people into making big deposits in a South African bank.
Bheki Khumalo, spokesperson for Mbeki, confirmed on Tuesday that the presidential office was aware of a document that suggested that Mbeki would be
host to an international conference to be held in South Africa in December. The letter indicated that Mbeki would be one of the speakers.
The presidents of, among others, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Malawi,
Mozambique, Angola, Lesotho and the Congo (Kinshasa) are named as also taking part in the conference.
Khumalo said the presidency became suspicious when a Johannesburg hotel contacted them two weeks ago about "a man who is staying here and running up an enormous bar bill".
Scorpions received complaint
"When the hotel asked the man to pay upfront, he said he was working for the president."
The document referring to Mbeki and other leaders was handed to police.
Director Phuti Sethathi of the police could not provide further
information. Sipho Ngwema, for the Scorpions, confirmed
the elite unit had received a complaint. He could not shed more light on the case.
The court appearance of Jabulani Philip Buthelezi (42), a director with home affairs, is allegedly linked to the arrest of a Congolese national in a luxury hotel, about two weeks ago.
Neither Khumalo not Sethathi could confirm whether the use of Mbeki's name in the 419-scam was linked to the arrest of the official and the Congolese national.