GEORGE NEWS - Two suspects, one of whom is a former police officer, briefly appeared in the George Magistrate's Court on Monday, 7 March for their alleged involvement in a fuel fraud syndicate.

According to Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani the former constable, Khuezi Gift Tshuku (29), and Zixolisile Skade (25) were arrested by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, assisted by the George Police Crime Prevention Unit, following an intensive investigation into the duo's criminal activities at a petrol station in George on Saturday 5 March.

"The Hawks' team in conjunction with local police were able to bust the alleged fraudsters who were operating with cloned fuel cards. The duo were arrested in possession of 15 containers filled with 25 litres of fuel and cloned cards with Western Cape Government fleet card information on the magnetic strip," said Hani.

The suspects remain in custody and are scheduled to be back in court on 14 March for bail information.

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