KNYSNA NEWS - Three suspects have been arrested in connection with South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) fraud in Knysna.

The trio was arrested during a multi-disciplinary takedown operation comprising of the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in George together with Crime Intelligence, SASSA officials and Public Order Police Service.

It's alleged that the suspects forged and uttered Sassa documents using a Sassa letterhead, as well as recruited members of the community to apply for cash loans claiming that they were Sassa officials.

"Upon loan approval the suspects would take the granted loan and pay the community member an undisclosed amount of cash and retain the remaining amount of the loaned money," Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said.

"Further allegations report that the suspects were even responsible for transporting their accomplices to the cash loan places. As a result of their criminal activities the cash loan businesses suffered a loss of over R64 084."

Hani confirmed that all three suspects will appear in the Knysna Magistrate's Court, today, Friday 28 October to face fraud, forgery and uttering charges.

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