FRAUDSTER SENTENCED FOR SELLING FAKE TERTIARY CERTIFICATES
MPUMALANGA – Edmond Okechuku (45) appeared at the Piet Retief Magistrate Court on Monday for sentencing on charges of fraud, forgery and linked to manufacturing false tertiary qualification certificates.
Okechuku was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Mpumalanga on the 16 October 2019 during an intelligence-driven operation put in place to intercept his criminal activities. This followed the information received about the sale of fake tertiary certificates sold to the public. He was released on R 2000 on 24 October 2019.
The self-employed salon and internet café operator based in Piet Retief was approached by a police agent who needed N6 Human Resources certificate for which he charged R1500.
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Okechuku pleaded guilty on all charges, subsequently, the Piet Retief Magistrate court sentenced him to six years direct imprisonment. Furthermore, he was denied leave to appeal the sentence and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The Hawks Provincial Head in Mpumalanga, Major General Zodwa Mokoena welcomed the sentence and applauded the team for the outstanding investigation. “We ought to put a formidable fight in the protection of our education system”, said Major General Mokoena.
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