Traffic Official and Learner Plead Guilty to Driving License Fraud

The Upington Regional Court has on Monday, 30 October 2023, sentenced a 51-year-old Keimoes traffic official, Erick Basson and a 43-year-old Pakistani National, Tahir Ali (35) for fraud.

Both accused were arrested during April 2016 after information was received regarding a traffic officer issuing driving licenses without the necessary driving test.

The leaner driver, Ali, came from Cape Town to receive his driver’s licence.

His test was scheduled for 11:00, however it never took place.

Yet the driver’s licence was later issued to him and the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team caught them during the exchange process.

They made several court appearances culminating in their recent conviction.

Read | Limpopo licensing officials bust for fraudulently issuing driver’s licenses

Ali pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to a fine of R5 000 or three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for a period of five years’ on condition that the accused is not convicted on the offence of Fraud committed during the period of suspension.

Basson also pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for a period of five years’ on condition that accused is not convicted on the offence of fraud committed during the period of suspension.