Fraud suspect running free
2005-09-29
A YOUNG man with blonde hair and a broad smile has been going around Paarl and Wellington, allegedly defrauding companies and inhabitants to the value of hundreds of thousands of rands.
Now the Police are also trying to trace Henry von Neethling, originally from Gauteng.
Von Neethling resided at 8 Wingfield Street, Wellington, where he allegedly also absconded with the landlady’s cellphone.
According to the Paarl investigating officer, Insp Auckland Losper, Von Neethling was recently also seen in Franschhoek and Brackenfell in his green CityGolf CN 14252.
The can of worms was opened by Adrian Jordaan, director of Denver Tractors in Paarl.
“A year ago we caught one of our employees stealing,” Jordaan said.
Von Neethling never arrived for the disciplinary hearing.
During the following six months an internal investigation revealed fraud and theft to the value of R80 000 and R100 000.
“I went with the investigating officer to obtain the required statements from the various parties involved. The evidence was conclusive.
“I have on numerous occasions met with junior and senior state prosecutors and was passed from one person to the next.
“It is astounding that after a year the accused is still running around free.”
According to Jordaan not a month goes by without somebody contacting his offices in connection with the accused having defrauded or stolen from them.
This ranges from prominent retail shops, petrol stations, furniture shops, jewellery shops, tow-in services, wineries, lawyers, plumbers and many individuals that have been done in in their personal capacity.
“After going through the entire case with the prosecutor assigned to it, which took almost five hours, nothing has yet happened.”
White collar crime is a major problem in SA, costing the country millions of rands and I now understand why people get away with it.
“Surely the authorities should take responsibility for this, for if they had done their jobs the suspect would have been behind bars by now.
“I hope by making this public it will prevent other people from losing money.”
Insp Losper can be contacted at 807-4000, and Jordaan at 872-5809.
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