After evading the police for months, a Malmesbury woman was arrested in Denver Park in George on Thursday. The alleged fraudster has been on the run since last year after a warrant of arrest was issued in October.

According to reports, the suspect lived in Malmesbury at the time of the alleged fraud, and after charges were laid and she was due to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court, she disappeared.

Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, the provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest.

“We can confirm that the 39-year-old alleged fraudster for who a warrant of arrest was issued for offences reported at Durbanville SAPS during March 2023, was arrested with the assistance of detectives attached to our Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit based in George and a female member of the Pacaltsdorp Crime Prevention Unit.”

Pojie says the suspect will be transferred to Durbanville Police Station, with an expected court appearance in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday, on charges of contempt of court relating to theft and fraud.

He says more charges could be brought against the accused as the investigation unfolds.

At least three bridal couples have accused the suspect, who claims to be a wedding planner, of scamming them out of thousands of rands after she failed to deliver on services she was paid for.

One case was reported in Durbanville and two in Paarl. The cases were centralised to the Durbanville police for investigation.

The victims also sought the help of a private investigator, Willem van Romburgh of DNC Investigations, to assist with the investigation.