A 28-year-old health worker from Johannesburg has been arrested on Saturday, August 21, for allegedly selling fake COVID-19 negative test certificates to travellers.
The alleged suspect who worked at the Parkhurst Clinic was arrested during a sting operation which was led by the City Executive Mayor, Councillor Jolidee Matongo working with the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) department and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department.
According to a statement by GFIS, the man allegedly sold fake COVID-19 negative test certificates to people wishing to travel to other countries without conducting tests and taking blood samples.
” All he allegedly required was the buyer’s identity number. After a day or two, the buyer would receive a message from the laboratory indicating that they had tested negative for COVID-19,” the statement read.
STING OPERATION: A City of Johannesburg official was arrested earlier today for selling fraudulent Covid-19 negative test certificates for citizens planning to travel overseas.
More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/Fx78Gpy6O2
— CoJ Group Forensic and Investigation Service (@coj_gfis) August 21, 2021