Parolee arrested for impersonating Hawks official

A PAROLEE who impersonated a Hawks official and solicited R50 000 to “back up information” was denied bail in the Hatfield Magistrate's Court this week.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Thabo Theletsane, 41, faces charges of fraud and impersonating a police official. Having furnished the court with a false address and his previous convictions, which also related to fraud, further hampered Theletsane’s application for bail.

“It is alleged that on 25 October 2024, while out on parole after serving a sentence for fraud, Theletsane contacted a prominent businessman via WhatsApp using a profile picture of the former national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya.

“During the call, he allegedly claimed his phone had been hacked and that the businessman would be contacted by ‘Mr Mokoena’ purportedly a police officer from the cybercrime unit.