13/05/2021
*WHERE ARE OUR STOLEN AND HIJACKED VEHICLES GOING TO?*
The Specialist Section, Durban Cluster announces the conviction of Wind Motors and South x South 29 (PTY) Ltd – both represented by Sanj Gounden.
Wind Motors is a well-known business in the Durban area, run by brothers Sanj and Sagren Gounden. Its primary business is dealing in second-hand motor vehicle parts, building and modifying vehicles for the purposes of sale.
South x South 29 (PTY) Ltd is an export company with husband and wife - Sanj Gounden and Kershnee Gounden as the Directors.
In December 2018 a container was packed at Wind Motors, Parlock, and transported to the Durban Harbour for shipment to Mauritius. Police received information that the container contained illicit goods. The container was stopped. The search yielded that the multiple motor vehicle parts were linked to theft, robbery and fraud cases from the Durban area.
Sanj Gounden, representing South x South, accepted responsibility for these goods – and pleaded guilty to Receiving Stolen Property (Count 1)
During the course of ensuing investigation, it was discovered that South x South also received into its possession a red Hyundai Accent from a business associate – which was discovered to have been stolen the year before. This 2nd count was also pleaded to (s37)
Further investigation into the business also yielded that Wind Motors, being a builder and modifier of vehicles, and selling same, was conducting business without registering with the Department of Transport as a Builder (Count 3)
The Accused was sentenced to a fine of R280 000-00 half suspended on the s37 charges and R10 000-00 for Failing to Register as a MV Builder.
Specialist Prosecutor Mr Vishalan Moodley guided a marathon investigation of giant proportion, and crossed many hurdles in order to achieve these successful convictions. Well done also to the TICIU Investigation Team headed by W/O SH Ngcobo, Cst Nigel Naicker, Sgt Ngube, Cst Maome and Cst Mthuli – supported unconditionally by Brigadier A Gopaul and Colonel Ndlazi.
The investigation was also greatly supported by the South African Insurance Crime Bureau (SAICB) through Mr HL (Lieb) Liebenberg and Mr Pine Pienaar, for their limitless guidance and insights during the course of the investigation. Their unconditional support to the Investigation contributed greatly to the success of the case.
In respect of the charges relating to the identifying of the container parts, and the building and modifying of the vehicles by Wind Motors, the Prosecution is grateful to W/O J Vermaak of VCIU – Port Shepstone whose investigation and guidance was invaluable in the matter. Officer Vermaak was the glue that held both parts of the investigation together.
In respect of the safekeeping of the parts, we are grateful to W/O Van Der Merwe from the Port Shepstone VSS for the excellent management of the exhibits.
There were many others stakeholders who contributed to the initial investigation: Colonel FAB Deckford, Vic Chitanand, Bugzy Bhagwandeen and Pieter Laubscher of Tracker, Carl Dornbrack of Recoveri, Kevin Pieterson of Veridot, Jurie Roberts and Neil Ryan of Datadot, Neville M**h of RTI, WESBANK and ABSA Bank Investigators, and Kobus Van Staden of Department of Transport-KZN.
We are also grateful to the State Metallurgical Engineers W/O Lwazi Jack and W/O Leshope Choenyane for their excellent investigation in respect of the modification of the vehicles. These investigative capacities are hidden gems in the State Resources that will hold us in good stead in future investigations.
This case sets a precedent warning to the auto-building industry. Stolen and Hijacked motor vehicles are quickly chopped, and disposed off into the spare parts market. There will always be the temptation to buy cheap goods and re-sell them at high profit. This is a warning to spare parts dealers to ensure high levels of ethics and governance in their businesses.
The Failing to Register as a Builder is the first conviction for KwaZulu-Natal, and certainly, sets the precedent in the industry for other unregistered auto body builders, and backyard panelbeaters.
