Twelve Home Affairs officials across the country have been fired for their role in passport fraud involving Pakistani national Arfan Ahmed, reports News24.

Ahmed has since been convicted and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment after bribing officials at the Krugersdrop Home Affairs office, sometimes up to the amount of R45 000.

In March 2022, Ahmed was apprehended during a sting operation involving the counter-corruption branch of Home Affairs, the Hawks and Crime Intelligence.

Home Affairs spokesperson Thabo Mokgola said they found multiple passports at Ahmed's home following his arrest.

‘For this offence, he is serving eight years. As the kingpin of the passport photo swop, he has recently been sentenced to another 10 years imprisonment by the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court. He is, therefore, serving a total of 18 years for his involvement in the overall passport syndicate activities.’

Ahmed worked with some corrupt Home Affairs officials in a network that had operatives in Gauteng, Limpopo, KZN, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Mpumalanga.

The 12 corrupt Home Affairs officials who enabled his scheme were fired after the conclusion of their disciplinary processes.

When asked if the Home Affairs officials would face the law, Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said: ‘Fourteen SA citizens, 12 Somalians and one Pakistani national were arrested.’

He added that 26 of the accused were undergoing court procedures. Ahmed, identified as the syndicate kingpin, pleaded guilty and thus his case was concluded, Ramovha said.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi welcomed the development saying the courts were showing that crime does not pay.

‘We've been waiting patiently for the sentencing of this kingpin for his role in the Krugersdorp passport syndicate. This is an illustration that, in our unflinching commitment to uproot fraud, corruption and all sorts of crimes bedeviling our country, we make sure that kingpins and their lieutenants face the full might of the law,’ he said.

Full News24 report