Jonathan Daffue was found guilty of fraud in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on Friday 16 May.
The 32-year-old was accused of defrauding a Somerset West golf club of more than R17 000.
He falsely booked a round of golf at the club for himself and 19 friends, used a false name and sent fraudulent proof of payments between 8 and 11 August 2023. (“Suspected fraudster in the dock“, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 19 February).
Daffue’s arrest was complicated. He was allegedly tracked down in Pretoria by Mike Bolhuis’ Specialised Security Services (SSS), a private investigation firm that specialises in cyber, serious violent and economic crimes.
The firm was hired by a client who claimed Daffue had defrauded them in a false cattle sale in George.
According to the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Andry Lottering, Daffue was arrested on Tuesday 28 January and transported to George.
He was released on a technicality, but subsequently rearrested on Somerset West charges while attempting to board a bus in George, back to Pretoria.
Authorities then brought him back to the Helderberg to stand trial for defrauding the golf club. During the bail application Lottering said Daffue had another fraud case pending in Mossel Bay (“Fraud accused has a wide itinerary“, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 26 February).
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in the Western Cape, confirmed Daffue had pleaded guilty to the charge of fraud and was convicted on Friday 16 May. He received a fine of R40 000 or two-year suspended sentence on condition he did not commit a similar offence during his suspension period.
Ntabazalila stated it was unclear whether Daffue had any other outstanding cases.
However, bail information indicated many cases had been opened against him, but were later withdrawn after he had reimbursed the complainants.
