Pakistani national sentenced to 18 years in South Africa for running fake passport syndicate | World News

A Pakistani national has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in South Africa after being found guilty of running a fake passport syndicate.

Arfan Ahmed was found guilty of corruption and bribery, a decision welcomed by Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi on Tuesday.

Ahmed was arrested after a sting operation in which authorities monitored him as he attempted to offer a substantial bribe of R45,000 to Home Affairs officials.

After his arrest, a search of Ahmed's home revealed several passports which he was not authorized to possess.

Evidence tendered to the court showed that Ahmed was the kingpin of a passport photo-swapping syndicate that worked in conjunction with corrupt Interior Ministry officials to provide fraudulent passports on behalf of southern citizens. -Africans, but with photos of foreign nationals.

The investigation revealed that Ahmed worked with corrupt Department of Home Affairs officials in a network that spanned six of South Africa's nine provinces.

Twelve corrupt officials who enabled Ahmed's scheme have already been fired by the ministry following internal disciplinary hearings, but concerns have been raised over why they have not also been handed over to authorities to be charged and eventually imprisoned like Ahmed.

“The courts are sending a strong message that crime does not pay. We patiently await the sentencing of this kingpin for his role in the passport syndicate. This illustrates that, in our unwavering commitment to eradicating fraud, corruption and the rest, kinds of crimes that plague our country, we ensure that the barons and their lieutenants face the full might of the law,” Motsoaledi said.

The minister explained how the high incidence of passport fraud in South Africa has led countries like the United Kingdom, where South Africans were previously able to travel without a visa, to introduce a visa requirement.

“This was not the case before unions like these denigrated our passports. We will therefore have no mercy towards anyone, Interior Ministry official or foreigner, who is involved in these despicable acts. We “Let's do this to protect the interests of all South Africans,” he said.