EMALAHLENI – In a recent development in Mpumalanga, the Emalahleni Regional Court has delivered a verdict against Christoffel Fick, a 64-year-old former driver’s licensing examiner. Fick was found guilty and sentenced for Fraud and Contravention of Section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
The case unfolded after the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in Mpumalanga received information regarding corrupt practices within the driver’s licensing system.
According to Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, the spokesperson for Mpumalanga Hawks, an investigation revealed that Fick was soliciting gratification from applicants undergoing driver’s license tests.
This revelation sheds light on the prevalence of corruption within regulatory processes and underscores the importance of combating such illicit activities.
“The investigation was carried forward and an undercover operation was authorised and executed. It was discovered that an applicant (of a driver’s licence) was never tested but was issued with a licence to drive a vehicle.” she explained.
“The examiner was confronted, after issuing the driver’s licence to the applicant, and arrested. Mr Fick was sentenced by the Emalahleni Regional Court as follows: Eighteen (18) months imprisonment which is wholly suspended for (5) five years on condition that the accused is not convicted on fraud during the period of suspension. In addition the accused was sentenced to a period of (3) three years correctional supervision.” she added.
His arrest has a lot of eyebrows to the residents in Emalahleni as many shared their views.
Buhle Msomi said, “ I so wish that our justice system can continue to arrest people like him and also those who are selling licencing to the person who never went to driving school to tear drive.”
“This is one of the reasons why we have alot of accidents in Emalahleni as many people do buy their licences and learners.”
Another resident who wished to remain anonymous said, “Thank you, Hawks for your hard work. Hopefully others will learn from this that no one is above the law and if you do crime, the Hawks will eventually investigate and arrest you at the end.”
