Couple sentenced to 15 years for R27m fraud
A couple and an accomplice were convicted and sentenced for fraud amounting to over R27 million by the Bellville Serious Commercial Crimes Court this week.
CAPE TOWN - A couple and an accomplice were convicted and sentenced for fraud amounting to over R27 million by the Bellville Serious Commercial Crimes Court this week.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said the fraud mastermind, Adele Coetzee, was found guilty on 71 charges of fraud and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment of which six years is suspended for a period of five years.
"The husband, Marius Coetzee was found guilty on 70 charges of Section 37 of the general Law Amendment Act 62 of 1995 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment of which ten years is suspended for a period of five years.
“Accomplice, Mariette Cupido, who worked as a sales lady at the car dealership in Malmesbury, who facilitated the deals, was found guilty on two charges of fraud and sentenced to 60 days imprisonment and a further 24 months correctional supervision for her involvement.
"This comes after the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in conjunction with the banking industry, arrested the couple in Brits, North West during September 2014, for motor vehicle application fraud amounting to R27 million. Later, in 2017, Cupido was added to the case," said Hani.
The trio was involved in a vehicle-purchase scheme by applying for hire-purchase finance from banking institutions using fraudulent documents submitted via a dealership in Malmesbury.
"73 fraudulent financing transactions were made to the banks between 2012 and 2014, which resulted in a loss of more than R27 million to the banking industry. The couple acted as agents for the motor company, to induce buyers to sign offers-to-purchase in respect of cars on sale on the premises," said Hani.
During the operation, the investigating team recovered ten vehicles at a farm in the Brits vicinity where the Coetzees' fled to from the Western Cape.
The Coetzees' appeared in the Brits Regional Court in September 2014, on more than 70 counts of fraud and the case was then transferred to Malmesbury Regional Court in the jurisdiction area where the crimes were committed.
Effectively, Adele will serve nine years while Marius will serve five years direct imprisonment. Additionally, all three accused were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The Hawks’ Provincial Head in the Western Cape, Major General Mathipa Solomon Makgato welcomed the sentence and applauded the Investigation team for securing a successful conviction on the multiple charges.
Cape Times