Hawks arrest suspects for fraud and theft
PARKTOWN – The Hawks have arrested three suspects from a Sandton-based company.
The Parktown-based Hawks recently arrested four suspects for fraud and theft amounting to R1.4 million at the South African Point of Purchase (Sapop) for misappropriation of funds for personal benefit.
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According to Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu, the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit had a breakthrough in its year-long investigation when, on 5 October, they arrested Elred Paul Hatton-Jones (53), Trevor Beach (45), Craig Driver (48) and Riccardo De Sousa (34), who are all directors of the Sandton-based company.
The Sapop directors allegedly created false invoices and paid the funds into their personal accounts. “They all appeared before the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 6 October for fraud and theft. Jones was granted bail of R50 000, whereas De Sousa and Driver received bail of R5 000 each, leaving Beach with a warning from the court,” said Mulamu.
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The case was postponed to 13 October for further investigation, provided the accused hand in their passports to authorities, which will prevent them from travelling abroad.
