The Hawks have arrested a 63-year-old man who allegedly went into hiding after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for fraud involving more than R1 million.
The fugitive was arrested in Camps Bay, Cape Town, on Saturday night after allegedly failing to surrender himself to authorities to begin serving his sentence.
Fraud conviction linked to work never carried out
The man was convicted in connection with a fraud case in Secunda, Mpumalanga, after he was found guilty of fraudulently claiming more than R1 million for work that was never carried out.
Following his conviction, he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
His legal challenge against the sentence was unsuccessful, with his appeal dismissed. Despite the outcome, he failed to hand himself over to authorities as required.
The failure to surrender himself led to the Evander Magistrates’ Court issuing a J76 Order of Apprehension.
A J76 is an order used by a court to authorise the arrest of a person who is required to appear before the court or who has failed to comply with a court order.
Hawks track suspect to Camps Bay
The Hawks, working with Camps Bay SAPS and the local City Improvement District, tracked down the 63-year-old and arrested him in Camps Bay on Saturday night.
The arrest brought an end to his period as a fugitive while authorities continued efforts to enforce the prison sentence imposed by the court.
The case highlights the work of law enforcement agencies in locating convicted offenders who fail to report to authorities after exhausting their legal avenues.
Suspect remains in custody
The suspect remains in custody and is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 14.
His appearance is expected to deal with proceedings to facilitate his transfer to Mpumalanga, where he will begin serving his 10-year sentence.
The Hawks have not indicated that the arrest changes the original conviction or sentence. The outstanding process is focused on ensuring that the convicted fraudster is transferred to the appropriate authorities to serve the sentence handed down by the court.
The investigation and prosecution stem from the alleged fraudulent claim of more than R1 million for work that was never performed in Secunda.
Authorities have urged members of the public to assist law enforcement agencies with information that could help locate wanted suspects and fugitives.
