Staff Reporter
Free State police are searching for a 32-year-old Ugandan national wanted for questioning in connection with two separate fraud cases in which two women were allegedly defrauded of more than R850,000 after being led to believe they were in romantic relationships with him.
The Free State Provincial Commercial Crimes Investigation Unit said on Tuesday it was asking the public to help trace Junior Bashiru, “a person of interest in two separate fraud cases”.
The first case dates back to September 2024, when a 42-year-old woman was allegedly approached by Bashiru “as a love interest”.
“The unsuspecting victim was later persuaded by the suspect to take up a loan of five hundred thousand rands,” police said.
The woman was allegedly defrauded of more than R516,000, which police said was paid to the suspect “on various occasions”.
In the second case, reported in Mangaung in May 2026, a 51-year-old woman was allegedly defrauded of about R342,000.
Police said the woman had taken out a personal loan after the suspect “promised her an equal partnership for a business project”.
“She then gave the money to the suspect with whom she believed she was in a mutual romantic relationship at the time,” police said.
The two fraud cases were registered in Welkom and Mangaung in 2024 and 2026 respectively.
Police urged anyone with information that could help trace Bashiru to contact Constable Neo Mothekhe of the Free State Provincial Commercial Crimes Investigation Unit on 064 039 6968, Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or to send an anonymous tip-off through the MySAPS App.
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