A 52-year-old East London man was arrested by the Hawks for costing the Buffalo City Metropolitan Metro Municipality R180-million by tampering with electricity meter boxes for almost three years.
Hawks national spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said Gerrit Jan Crowther was caught in the act pretending to be an electrician for Eskom and Buffalo City Metro.
Crowther appeared before the East London Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for alleged fraud after he was arrested on Thursday. Mulaudzi said Crowther was nabbed following a two-year investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime unit.
“For almost three years Crowther claimed to be working for Eskom and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and alleged he was installing a device which reduces electricity consumption.
“It transpired that he allegedly did not install a device, but rather tampered with electricity meters. Consequently, the municipality lost approximately R180-million as a result of this alleged crime,” said Mulaudzi.
Mulaudzi said Crowther remains in custody and is expected to appear again at the same court on June 29 2018.
Man arrested for tampering with meter boxes, costing BCM R180-million
Image: File
A 52-year-old East London man was arrested by the Hawks for costing the Buffalo City Metropolitan Metro Municipality R180-million by tampering with electricity meter boxes for almost three years.
Hawks national spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said Gerrit Jan Crowther was caught in the act pretending to be an electrician for Eskom and Buffalo City Metro.
Crowther appeared before the East London Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for alleged fraud after he was arrested on Thursday. Mulaudzi said Crowther was nabbed following a two-year investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime unit.
“For almost three years Crowther claimed to be working for Eskom and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and alleged he was installing a device which reduces electricity consumption.
“It transpired that he allegedly did not install a device, but rather tampered with electricity meters. Consequently, the municipality lost approximately R180-million as a result of this alleged crime,” said Mulaudzi.
Mulaudzi said Crowther remains in custody and is expected to appear again at the same court on June 29 2018.
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