By: PTI
Johannesburg
A Pakistani national, Arfan Ahmed, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in South Africa after being convicted for his role in a major fake passport syndicate. The court found Ahmed guilty of corruption and bribery, marking the conclusion of an investigation that exposed a network of fraudulent passport activities involving corrupt officials.
Ahmed was arrested during a sting operation in which he attempted to bribe Home Affairs officials with R45,000 in exchange for the creation of fake passports. Following his arrest, a search of his residence revealed multiple passports that he was unlawfully in possession of. These passports were part of a sophisticated scheme where photographs of foreign nationals were swapped with those of South African citizens, allowing Ahmed to provide fraudulent passports to foreigners.
Ahmed was found to be the mastermind of the operation, working closely with corrupt Home Affairs officials across six South African provinces. As a result of the investigation, twelve Home Affairs officials have been dismissed for their involvement in the syndicate. However, concerns have been raised over why these officials were not arrested and charged, like Ahmed, instead of merely being fired.
South Africa’s Home Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, praised the sentencing, highlighting the significance of the conviction in the fight against fraud and corruption. He emphasized that this case sends a strong message that individuals involved in such criminal activities would face severe penalties. The fraudulent passport operations had caused South Africa to lose its visa-free status in some countries, including the UK, which introduced a visa requirement due to passport fraud issues.
The conviction of Arfan Ahmed is seen as a significant step in South Africa’s ongoing efforts to crack down on organized crime and corruption within government institutions. Minister Motsoaledi reaffirmed that the government would continue to take a hard stance on fraudulent activities that jeopardize the safety and interests of South African citizens.
