2 South Africans jailed for fraud at the coast

A South African man and woman were found guilty on charges of fraud and forgery and each sentenced to four years in prison in the Regional Court at Swakopmund on Friday.

Belinda Christine Pieterse (23) from Boksburg and Mathews Johannes Paul Willemse (35) from Johannesburg have been in Police custody since their arrest at Swakopmund on December 23. Pieterse was found guilty on five counts of fraud, and Willemse on one count of fraud and 40 counts of forgery.Both of them pleaded guilty on all charges.Pieterse first came to Namibia alone in December last year in possession of stolen American Express travellers cheques.According to her testimony in court the cheques and required proof were given to her by “a man” who is allegedly part of a syndicate.The original value of each of the stolen cheques was US$20, but the seal on them were changed to US$500.Pieterse, who had signed all the cheques as is required, managed to cash a total of N$125 247, 50 over two days at the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund branches of Commercial Bank and at the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre.She then returned to South Africa and soon after came back to Namibia with Willemse with more cheques.American Express had in the meantime discovered what had been happening and the Police was alerted to the scheme.When Willemse tried to cash another US$500 (N$6 100) at the Swakopmund branch of Commercial Bank on December 19, he was arrested.Pieterse was waiting in a car outside the bank with more signed travellers cheques valued at N$ 139 191,60.She was also arrested and taken into custody.In his testimony, Willemse acknowledged to Lana Fouche, State Prosecutor that they had planned to cash the rest of the cheques in Namibia as well.As the crimes were committed in two different towns, they were originally charged at the Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Courts.The cases were transferred to the Regional Court and the charges combined into one hearing.Magistrate Gert Retief said when sentencing the two that they came to the country with one aim in mind – to steal.Willemse and Pieterse will face similar charges in the Okahandja court later this year.Pieterse was found guilty on five counts of fraud, and Willemse on one count of fraud and 40 counts of forgery.Both of them pleaded guilty on all charges.Pieterse first came to Namibia alone in December last year in possession of stolen American Express travellers cheques.According to her testimony in court the cheques and required proof were given to her by “a man” who is allegedly part of a syndicate.The original value of each of the stolen cheques was US$20, but the seal on them were changed to US$500.Pieterse, who had signed all the cheques as is required, managed to cash a total of N$125 247, 50 over two days at the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund branches of Commercial Bank and at the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre.She then returned to South Africa and soon after came back to Namibia with Willemse with more cheques.American Express had in the meantime discovered what had been happening and the Police was alerted to the scheme.When Willemse tried to cash another US$500 (N$6 100) at the Swakopmund branch of Commercial Bank on December 19, he was arrested.Pieterse was waiting in a car outside the bank with more signed travellers cheques valued at N$ 139 191,60.She was also arrested and taken into custody.In his testimony, Willemse acknowledged to Lana Fouche, State Prosecutor that they had planned to cash the rest of the cheques in Namibia as well.As the crimes were committed in two different towns, they were originally charged at the Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Courts.The cases were transferred to the Regional Court and the charges combined into one hearing.Magistrate Gert Retief said when sentencing the two that they came to the country with one aim in mind – to steal.Willemse and Pieterse will face similar charges in the Okahandja court later this year.