PRETORIA, Gauteng - A Randburg man is believed to be the first person to appear in court for refusing to pay e-tolls, Beeld reported on Wednesday (Feb 11).
According to court documents, Bulgarian Stoyan Hristov Stoychev drove his Hyundai i30 without one of its number plates, changed the "C" on the plate to an "O" and swopped two of the numbers.
However, a Ford Bantam bakkie with the same number plate was the legal registered e-toll user.
903 CHARGES OF FRAUD
Beeld reported that it was the first such prosecution since e-tolls started on December 3, 2013.
Stoychev appeared in court on Tuesday (Feb 10 2015) on 1907 charges - of which 903 involved alleged fraud of R15 000 for the use of fake plates.
The rest of the alleged transgressions relate to the National Road Traffic Act and the SA National Roads Agency Ltd and National Roads Act.
Stoychev allegedly secured the number plates with cable ties for easy removal, refused to pay toll fees, drove without number plates, changed his number plate and did not display his licence disc properly.
Traffic officials lay in wait on the N1 for the Hyundai, Stoychev obliged, and he was arrested in Centurion on October 2 2014.
He is on bail of R10 000.