An elderly woman from Jukulyn, Pretoria in Gauteng has been arrested at a Shoprite store for attempting to purchase groceries with counterfeit money.
The incident is believed to be connected to a recent lobola payment made by her Nigerian son-in-law, Kelechi Johnson Adegoke.
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According to reports, Adegoke had paid a lobola of R95,000 to the family using counterfeit cash. The fake money then circulated among the family members until the elderly woman went to Shoprite to buy groceries.
Unaware of the counterfeit nature of the money, she was shocked when informed by the store staff.
The police were called to the scene and subsequently arrested the elderly woman. In addition to her arrest, three other family members were also apprehended for their involvement in the circulation of the counterfeit money.
Although the police were only able to recover approximately R40,000 from the family members, it is suspected that the remaining amount had already been spent.
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Counterfeit currency poses a significant threat to the economy and individuals who unknowingly come into possession of such money can face serious legal consequences. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or counterfeit currency to the authorities.
The investigation into this case is ongoing, and the individuals involved will be held accountable for their actions.
Update: 7:27 pm, 1/27/2024. The police in Gauteng have provided an update to the above story after visiting the said Shoprite store. According to the update, the story is false and should be disregarded. Read the police statement below:
#sapsGP The Police in Gauteng have noted with concern a video and article circulating on social media purporting that an elderly woman was arrested after she purchased groceries using fake bank notes in Rietgat policing precinct, Jukulyn. The Police would like to repudiate those… pic.twitter.com/qTHmHGOzYm
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) January 27, 2024
