The KwaZulu-Natal commercial crime division of the SA Police Service is reaping the rewards of throwing its weight behind the white-collar crime web site, with two important tip-offs received in the first week of the site`s relaunch.
Inspector Benette Ledingham says one of the tip-offs involves one of the commercial crime division`s five most wanted.
"The web site has been very helpful as a source of information to both the police and the public. Not only are we receiving information about suspects, but the site provides valuable information on what white collar crime is," she says.
Web site owner Jonathan Blindell says he launched the site six years ago after his stepfather was murdered. However, the site only 'took off` in earnest recently.
"I launched the site originally after the police went beyond the call of duty in giving comfort to my family. I wanted to give them something back in return. The site took a while to get going, but since the commercial crime division got behind it and the site was relaunched on 25 August, there has been a lot of interest shown."
Blindell says the web site is a joint project between himself, the KZN commercial crime division and Business Against Crime`s KZN white collar crime task group and provides information on all ranges of white collar crime.
"The web site shows details of people for whom warrants of arrest have been issued and those who have been convicted of white collar crime. The cases listed vary from fraud involving a few hundred rand to one in which Ian Eugene Stokes, who is believed to be in the United States, is wanted for questioning about the theft of approximately R26 million.
Blindell says there are plans to take the concept to other provinces. "I have received a lot of support and some tip-offs about white collar crime in other provinces in the last week. I believe the commercial crime division is investigating taking the web site to the other provinces as well, to aid them in the fight against white-collar crime," he says.
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