'Conman' of many names arrested
2008-04-22 09:29
Volksrust - A 32-year-old man who allegedly duped Volksrust residents out of large sums of money had been arrested, said Mpumalanga police on Monday.
Captain Leonard Hlathi said Tshepo Shabalala was arrested on Friday after he allegedly pretended at various times to be a medical doctor, a lawyer, a priest, a police captain, a home affairs official and a health inspector.
"He used different names ranging from Tshepo Peter Shabalala to Thabo Mahuwatsa. He went to the Volksrust police station eight months ago, saying he had been sent to monitor the station and compile a report."
Hlathi said police realised he was a conman a few days later, but by then he had disappeared.
'Bogus health inspector'
"He allegedly collected huge amounts of money from people after telling them he was registering their marriages. Others believed he was an investor and he made away with their money."
The man also allegedly left with money from people he had promised medication for certain diseases.
The man was arrested on Friday after he went to a clinic in Volksrust pretending to be a health inspector.
"He was found in possession of many qualification documents for his different 'professions'," Hlathi said.
He appeared on charges of fraud on Monday and the case was postponed to April 28 for a bail application.
- SAPA