Police bust fake passport, ID syndicate in Joburg flat

Gauteng police arrested five men for fraud and corruption in the Johannesburg city centre this week. 

Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said the authorities responded to a tip-off about a syndicate that fraudulently printed personal documents, including birth and death certificates, university and college documents, identity documents and passports.

Masondo said the syndicate worked with home affairs officials and operated from a flat in Marshalltown. 

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He said: "On 16 May 2022, the information was operationalised, and the police pounced on the premises where they found five males busy working on laptops and desktops, printing documents later identified as death certificates, birth certificates, and other home affairs documents. Police also found the green identity documents marked deceased, passports, and temporary ID documents."

The men, who face charges of fraud, corruption, and bribery, will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court soon.