A Mpumalanga trucker spent the weekend locked up after a scheme to stage his own hijacking went awry. The accused now faces charges including perjury and theft from his own company in the brazen con that veers into the strange and unbelievable.

On Monday, Nkosana Glen Mathebula, 37, was remanded in custody following last month’s bungled ruse, described by police as “an absolutely bizarre case.” He allegedly broke into his own company’s depot after filing a bogus report claiming kidnappers commandeered his rig.

“We thought it was a routine hijacking,” said Lt. Col. Zanele Mkhize. “Then things got fishy when his story crumbled under scrutiny.”

According to investigators, Mathebula told wild tales to cover his crimes, weaving a web of deceit instead of simply admitting what he had done. Authorities warn that crying wolf about fictional attacks wastes police resources and diverts attention from real crimes with real victims.

“Community members are urged not to report false cases,” said Lt. Gen. Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, praising investigators. Charges against Mathebula range from defiant trespassing to defeating justice. He’ll remain incarcerated at least until a December 1st court appearance to plead on accusations in the strange, twisted saga.