An insolvent Bloemfontein farmer, Pierre Jacques Van Wyk (53), who had his assets liquidated, was further sentenced to direct imprisonment for fraud and stock theft. The Bloemfontein Regional Court sentenced the accused on Friday, 14 March, regarding crimes committed 15 years ago.
Van Wyk was sentenced to an effective eight years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of stock theft and fraud. He has been on trial since 10 May 2010 regarding incidents which occurred early in 2009. Van Wyk’s sentencing is the result of the investigation by the Bloemfontein Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks, said Van Wyk defrauded two victims of their livestock, a motor bike, and cash worth R420 000.
“Van Wyk approached one of the victims to borrow an amount of R420 000. The victim agreed to lend the accused money. As part of an assurance to recover the money in case the accused failed to repay the loan, they signed a contract. In it, the accused listed assets including vehicles, farm equipment, tractors, and livestock as surety. The accused signed off insurance policy documents to enable the victim to claim and recover his money.
“In addition, the accused gave the victim a postdated cheque to the amount of R495 000. However, when the victim went to the bank to deposit the cheque, it was rejected as there were no funds available. The victim contacted the insurance company to verify the policy but was informed that it had lapsed,” Singo explained.
He said Van Wyk did not disclose he was insolvent, and that his assets were in the process of liquidation. Singo said during the investigation, it emerged a second victim had also laid charges of stock theft and theft of a motor bike against Van Wyk.
Singo said the court sentenced the accused to five years’ imprisonment on three counts of fraud, three years’ imprisonment on two counts of stock theft, and an additional 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for five years on a charge of theft.
