A 39-year-old foreign national appeared before the Bela Bela Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 13 June 2025, facing charges of perjury, contravention of the Immigration Act, and theft of diesel. His case was postponed to 19 June 2025 for further investigation and a bail application.
The suspect was arrested on 12 June 2025 after it was discovered that he had fabricated a car hijacking incident reported at the Bela Bela police station on Tuesday, 10 June 2025.
According to his initial statement, the man claimed he was driving his blue Mercedes-Benz along the Codrington offramp on the R101 near Bela Bela when a Toyota Corolla blocked his path. He alleged that two armed men forced him out of his vehicle, made him lie down, and placed him in the boot of a white Toyota before driving off in his car. He was later dropped off along the road.
However, an investigation by Bela Bela Vispol and Detectives revealed inconsistencies in his account. Authorities discovered that his vehicle was present at a crime scene where diesel theft had been reported, leading them to conclude that his hijacking claim was false.
As a result, the suspect was charged with perjury for providing a false statement, violating immigration laws, and involvement in diesel theft. Following his arrest, he made his first court appearance on Friday, 13 June 2025.
Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.