POLOKWANE – Former photocopier mogul and well-known local businessman Jacques Nell, was arrested by the Hawks in Gauteng yesterday (Wednesday) on charges relating to fraud.
Nell is to appear before the Polokwane magistrate’s court today (Thursday).
Nell’s arrest was yesterday confirmed to Review by Hawks spokesperson, Capt Paul Ramaloka.
Nell was the owner of Data Master Office Automation CC in Polokwane and well connected politically.
The company sold and repaired digital photocopying and scanning equipment, mainly to government departments.
Nell last made headlines in December 2012, when he went abroad on holiday shortly after having applied for liquidation, leaving most of his staff members high and dry.
Nell relocated his family to Gauteng afterwards, saying he was “protecting them”.
The Hawks started their investigation in February 2012 after fraud and corruption charges were made against two Limpopo government entities over the awarding of multimillion-rand tenders to Nell’s company.
Yesterday, the Hawks’ Ramaloka indicated that the state was planning to oppose Nell’s bail application as they considered him a flight risk.
