A high-stakes drama is unfolding at Kruger National Park as the Hawks have been reeled in to help search for Amos Tineyi Kampinya, a 44-year-old Zimbabwean national accused of vanishing with nearly R900 000 from a Mugg and Bean outlet.
How an illegal Zim national defrauded Kruger National Part Mugg and Bean
The case, emerging from an incident that allegedly occurred in July 2022, saw law enforcement grappling with the mystery of how Kampinya, then a manager at the establishment, orchestrated the theft of company funds amounting to R897 229.50.
Despite the meticulous investigation efforts, the exact method Kampinya employed to divert the funds remains shrouded in secrecy, with police and the Hawks tight-lipped about the specifics.
Efforts to apprehend the suspect have hit a snag, as attempts to locate him at his last known residence, Karino Flats near Mbombela, proved futile.
The situation was further complicated by Kampinya’s status as an undocumented immigrant from Zimbabwe, making it all the more difficult for police to track down his movements.
The Hawks, spearheaded by Mpumalanga’s Major General Nicholas Gerber, have since turned to the community for assistance. However, the high-level law enforcement unit was dealt an embarrassment when they circulated an image depicting a man who was, in fact, not Kampinya.
The Hawks quickly issued an apology and rectified the cringe error with the correct image of the suspect.
Gerber has also directly urged Kampinya to surrender, a plea, which, of course, the former manager has yet to heed.
Early speculation suggests that Kampinya may have slithered his way out of the country. However, this could not be verified. At this juncture,
The Hawks are pursuing all leads under the firm belief that the suspect is hiding somewhere within our borders.