Prison was supposed to be a lesson for them to stay away from crime.
But for these two inmates, Lucas Masemola (44) from Soshanguve and Tebogo Makena (24) from Mamelodi West, being in prison could not stop them from committing more crimes.
They ran a scam behind being Odi Correctional Centre walls, conning people of their hard earned cash.
The scam was blown wide open last week when the National Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit traced and arrested them.
The National Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit began the investigation in July 2017 after it received complaints via our toll-free Crime Stop number, 086 00 10111, regarding an alleged scam whereby con-artists were contacting different police stations posing as senior police officers.
The suspects are alleged to have obtained information about complainants and suspects of criminal cases, mostly in respect of car-jackings and theft of motor vehicle and they would use the information to extort money from their victims. Details as to how and from where the suspects have been obtaining such information also forms part of an investigation.
Cops spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale said the suspects would then contact crime victims, inform them that their vehicles have been recovered and advise that the victim must deposit certain amounts of money through e-wallet/money market to get their vehicles back.
"In cases of arrested persons, these two suspects are alleged to have contacted next of kin for the arrested persons to also solicit money."
The SAPS National Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit, through its investigation, discovered that the suspects have been scamming people in the provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape.
The two suspects were subsequently arrested in a Pretoria correctional facility.
During the operation, suspects were found in possession of cell phones which they used to contact victims during commission of the crime.
The two have since appeared before Kempton Park regional court on Tuesday 14 November, facing charges of Extortion, Fraud, Theft, Defeating the ends of justice and impersonating police officers.
They were remanded in custody until 4 December for further investigation.
Community members are urged to come forward with any information in relation to this scam or might have been a victim of the scam.
They may contact Captain Kwena Sefaamela on cell phone number 071 361 9419 and Sergeant Mpho Mashishi on cell phone number 082 770 5404 may be contacted during office hours.
