A Clocolan farmer in the Free State stands accused of allegedly defrauding the OVK group, an agricultural enterprise, a whooping R800 000 in loan. The case against the suspect, Johannes Cornelius Van Rooyen (50), is to continue in the Ladybrand Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 16 July.
He first appeared in court on Tuesday, 11 June, facing charges of fraud and contravention of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005. The fraud case arose from his purported failure to repay a loan granted to him by the enterprise, and a further breach of agreement to put two of his vehicles as sureties should he fail to settle the loan.
Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Van Rooyen was summonsed on 20 May to appear in court regarding the matter.
After initially being struck off the roll, he said the matter was reinstated based on the strength of evidence following in-depth probing by the Bethlehem Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation. “It is alleged that the suspect took an R800 000 loan from a Ladybrand agricultural business, the OVK. The loan was approved on condition that he put two of his vehicles as sureties should he fail to settle the loan. The OVK discovered that the suspect had sold both vehicles when the suspect could not make further monthly payments as agreed. The OVK pursued him with the intention to recover and sell the two vehicles. It was this misrepresentation that led to the OVK opening a case against Van Rooyen,” said Mohobeleli.
