‘Fraudster’ out on bail again
MIDRAND - A former Midrand resident, who is accused of defrauding numerous people, was released on bail of R2 000 for two fraud cases in Nelspruit on 5 November.
7 November, 12pm
The bail hearing, which began in the Hazyview Magistrates Court on 31 October, was postponed to 1 November and was held in the White River Magistrates court. The man was in police custody until he was released on bail on 5 November.
This is the second time the man has been released on bail in the last month. He was released on R5 000 bail in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on 23 October.
The man will return to court in Nelspruit on 5 December but he will first appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on 25 November for fraud charges that were logged against him in Midrand. On 28 November he will appear in the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court for additional charges.
Seeing as though there are a number of cases against the man in Midrand and Mpumalanga, and Midrand falls under the South High Court and Mpumalanga falls under the North High Court, it is not likely the cases would be bundled together.
31 October 12pm:
The man appeared in the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court for a bail hearing on the morning of 31 October but the magistrate postponed the hearing to 1 November, which will be held in the White River Magistrate’s Court.
In the meantime, the man will remain in custody.
Those who claim to have been defrauded by the man include a number of Midrand residents.
31 October, 10am:
The man appeared briefly in the court on 29 October and will stay in Hazyview police cells until the bail hearing.
The suspect was first arrested in Midrand on 22 October. He was released on R5 000 bail in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on 23 October.
He since travelled to the Kruger National Park and was re-arrested after new evidence came to the attention of police in the area.
25 October, 2pm:
A former Midrand resident, with numerous charges of fraud against him, will stay in police cells for another night.
The man will appear in the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court on 31 October for a bail hearing.
A warrant of arrest was issued in Nelspruit for the man earlier this month, who allegedly defrauded numerous people out of large sums of money. He was arrested in Midrand and appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on 23 October.
He was released on R5 000 bail and is due to appear in court again on 25 November.
Michelle Watson and Midrand resident June Reynolds claim that they were defrauded by the man; just two of the alleged victims of the 13 cases of fraud logged against the man.
Watson said they felt that the law had let them down by letting the man receive bail.
Reynolds also said she was disappointed. She said, “I stood up in court and told the magistrate that there were 13 cases (of fraud) and four warrants. When I explained outside of court that he was a flight risk, they went back in and asked for his passport to be handed in. He did not even plea.”
Watson reiterated that they had not, and would not, give up despite questioning whether justice will be served.
