Mpumalanga – The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (HAWKS) has confirmed the appearance of Bongi Gladys Shongwe (49), an Immigration Officer, and her co-accused, Ibrahim Siriri (34), a Tanzanian national, before the Tonga Magistrate's Court on charges of fraud and corruption.
The charges stem from an incident at the Jeppe’s Reef Port of Entry, where Siriri reportedly paid Shongwe R1000 in exchange for a fraudulent passport stamp, extending his stay in South Africa beyond legal limits.
An investigation led by the Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation Unit revealed that Siriri’s passport contained a departure stamp dated 31 December 2024, although he was intercepted at the border on 5 December 2024. Further inquiries linked the stamp directly to Shongwe. It was also uncovered that Siriri's temporary resident permit had expired on 9 August 2015, rendering him undocumented in the country.
Both accused were arrested on Tuesday, 10 December 2024, and brought to court the following day.
During their court appearance:
- Shongwe was granted bail of R5000.
- Siriri was remanded in custody, with his case postponed to 12 December 2024 for a formal bail application.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to dismantle corruption networks within the immigration system.
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