CRACK South African investigative unit, The Hawks, are on
the trail of an alleged fugitive from Zimbabwe identified as Bruce Nyamurima,
whom they believe executed, with connivance of a sophisticated crime syndicate,
an elaborate scam to defraud a Pretoria company of R5 million.
The Hawks and other South African law enforcement agencies
have been on the trail of Nyamurima, whom they suspect has been a vital cog in
the execution of the scam, since December. He has been posted on various social
media law enforcement agency pages as a person of interest in an ongoing
investigation.
The Hawks are South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime
Investigation (DPCI) which targets organised crime, corruption, economic crimes
and other serious crime referred to it by the President or the South African Police
Services (SAPS).
The investigation into the fraud allegations was initiated
by well-known South African financial crime investigation firm, IRS Forensic
Investigations and reported to the SAPS under the case number SAPS CAS
1066/12/2019 at Pretoria Central Police Station.
“We can confirm that Bruce Nyamurima, a Zimbabwean citizen,
is the prime suspect in a case in South Africa involving a Pretoria business
that was defrauded in excess of R5 million in an elaborate tender scheme
involving the fabrication of documents,” forensic investigator Mr Chad Thomas
of IRS Forensic Investigations said from South Africa.
Mr Thomas said Nyamurima, who has since gone into hiding
but was reportedly spotted around Bulawayo during the festive season, did not
deny the crime when IRS contacted him but expressed fear that a shadowy
mafia-like organisation might persecute him if he returned to South Africa.
“Nyamurima is suspected to be back in his home country of
Zimbabwe. When contacted by investigators from South Africa, Nyamurima did not
deny his role in the fraud, instead he alluded to the involvement of an alleged
mafia type group and stated that his life would be in danger if he returned to
South Africa to give his version of events,” Mr Thomas said.
The forensic investigator revealed that authorities did not
believe that Nyamurima had been acting alone, as the crime was too complex to
be a one-man job. He said the initial charge of fraud would soon be changed to
include other criminal offences.
“This was a very complex fraud. Nyamurima did not act alone
when perpetrating this crime. He definitely had help. Our investigation has
revealed that a joint criminal enterprise existed and we will be making
representations to change the charges to racketeering, money laundering and
proceeds of crime,” Mr Thomas said.
Arrests by the Hawks, he said, were imminent while they
also wanted the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol to issue a
red notice on Nyamurima. Red Notices are issued for fugitives wanted either for
prosecution or to serve a sentence. A Red Notice is a request to law
enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending
extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
“We are expecting the authorities to make several arrests
in this matter and are extremely satisfied in the manner in which the Hawks are
conducting the investigation. Further to this, we will request that the
National Prosecuting Authority request the extradition of Nyamurima so that
Interpol can issue a Red Notice for his arrest,” said Mr Thomas. Sunday News
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