Tony Stout, a 31-year-old Eastern Cape resident and Home Affairs official, was found guilty of fraud and violating the Identification Act.
The Gqeberha New Law Magistrate’s Court heard the verdict on Tuesday.
Stout was a department clerk who was found guilty following an inquiry by the Directorate for Priority Crime inquiry (Hawks) following the filing of a complaint in KwaZulu-Natal.
Hawks provincial spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said that Stout altered the passport applications of foreigners by using the false identity information of South African natives.
The report sparked a nationwide investigation that revealed the fraudulent activity.
After the investigation, Stout was taken into custody on March 26, 2021. He then appeared in court for the first time in the Gqeberha New Law Magistrate’s Court, where he was given a warning before being freed.
On Tuesday, May 28, Stout entered a guilty plea to the charges despite having made multiple court appearances.
Sentence in the case has been postponed until May 31st, which is a major step in the Department of Home Affairs’ fight against identity theft.
