Daniel Smith (49), was sentenced to ten years imprisonment at the Mmabatho High Court on Monday for allegedly defrauding four cattle farmers of almost R7 million in 2012.
According to Hawks spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, Smith was arrested in Coligny by the Hawks’ serious commercial crime unit on 26 June 2015 following investigations into allegations that he bought cattle from farmers in Coligny, Sannieshof and Lichtenburg and paid them using false cheques. ‘The said cheques subsequently bounced after he had already taken delivery and exported the cattle to Botswana,’ reported Rikhotso.
‘The sentence is wholly suspended for five years on condition that he pays back all the money defrauded from the farmers by January 2018, failing which the sentence will come into effect,’ she said.
The Provincial Head – Major General Linda Mbana applauded the investigators for securing the conviction which also includes paying back the victims.
