Official announcements or media reports on arrests by South African authorities

Johannesburg Man Arrested for Allegedly Funding Terrorism with R11,500 in Bitcoin, to Appear in Lichtenburg Court

Jan 5, 2025, 09:58 AM

A 35-year-old man from Johannesburg, South Africa, has been arrested by the Hawks, the country's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, at his Sandton home on allegations of financing terrorism using cryptocurrency. The suspect allegedly purchased Bitcoin worth R11,500 through Luno, a virtual asset service provider, on November 30, 2017. The funds were then transferred to an organization described as an independent charity and nonprofit entity, which is believed to be linked to two other suspicious organizations. The investigation into the suspect's activities began in May 2018 following a notification from the Financial Intelligence Centre about a suspicious transaction. The suspect faces charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA) and is set to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrates Court on Monday. The Hawks have reaffirmed their commitment to combating money laundering and terror financing in alignment with the Financial Action Task Force standards.