Hawks score R1.6 million forfeiture win in Northern Cape court
The police discovered two bags containing a total of R1.6 million in cash during a raid on the suspect’s property.
Image: File
IN A VICTORY for crime-fighting authorities, the Northern Cape High Court has granted a forfeiture order worth R1.6 million against a 51-year-old suspect who failed to explain the origin of bags of cash discovered during a police raid.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks, along with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, secured the order this week, after months of investigation.
According to Hawks regional spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe, the money was originally seized in January 2024, when Public Order Policing members searched a property and uncovered two bags stuffed with cash totalling R1.6 million. The suspect, Mahdi Aki, was unable to account for the funds, prompting authorities to escalate the matter.
The successful forfeiture marks a significant step in targeting unexplained wealth and disrupting illicit financial flows in the province.
The provincial head of the Northern Cape Hawks, Major-General Stephen Molefi Mabuela, praised the efforts of SAPS members, emphasising that collaborative work in the fight against crime yields results and should continue to be strengthened.