Three suspects Matu Petrus Gobile (64), Junaid Mohammed Dhorat (19) and Mubarak Alibhai Ahmed Rokad (42) have appeared before the Pretoria Central Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 06 August 2024 for Contravention of Section 838 of the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 and illegal possession of illicit cigarettes (goods) and Corruption.
Information was received by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Johannesburg and the Department of Community Safety’s Special Law Enforcement Unit about a truck travelling on the N1 towards Carousel plaza transporting illicit cigarettes to Johannesburg escorted by a silver Toyota Fortuner. The truck was spotted and stopped travelling along the Stormvoel off ramp on the N1 highway when (14) Ramington Gold Blue cigarettes with an estimated value of R 650 000-00 were found and seized.
Gobile who was driving the truck was arrested for possession and Contravention of Section 838 of the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 and illegal possession of illicit cigarettes (goods) while Dhorat and Rokad were arrested for Corruption after offering Police officials gratification of R10 000-00. Further investigations also revealed that two of the suspects Gobile and Dhorat were arrested last month for a similar case when they were caught transporting illicit cigarettes from Musina, Limpopo to Gauteng and Gobile was granted bail of R3000-00 while Dhorat was released on bail of R5000-00 by the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
The trio made their first appearance at the Pretoria Central Magistrate Court on 02 August 2024 where the matter was postponed to Tuesday, 06 August 2024 for a formal bail application. The trio were all denied bail and the matter is postponed to 14 August 2024.