Local priest apprehends card scammer in Athlone

A LOCAL priest has caught an alleged card scammer red-handed, making a citizen's arrest inside a bottle store after being in pursuit of the suspect who stole one of his parish members' cards at an ATM.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

Father Michael Williams of the Anglican Catholic Church said he was accompanying one of his parish members on Wednesday - a 75-year-old man, to the ATM in Kromboom Road in Athlone, when they were approached by a man who pretended to assist them.

"When we got to the Nedbank ATM, it was not working and we decided to use the Standard Bank ATM," said Father Williams.

"I was wearing my collar as a priest and I was singing and this man commented on my voice.

"We struggled to put the card into the ATM and he said he can help.

"He had notes (money) in his hands and was placing the parish member's card into the ATM."