WELKOM – A 52-year-old sales representative has been arrested for alleged fraud, forgery, uttering and money laundering involving fraudulent solar system applications valued at approximately R719 944.

Pieter Johannes Jakobus Theunissen appeared before the Welkom Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 27 October, following an investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in the Free State.

According to the Hawks, Theunissen was employed as a sales representative at Nashua when he allegedly concluded two master sales agreements with clients on 24 January and 27 February 2023 for the installation of solar systems.

The rental agreements were submitted to a finance house and approved, resulting in Theunissen allegedly receiving commission from the transactions.

However, subsequent investigations reportedly established that the applications were fraudulent and that the clients’ signatures had allegedly been forged. The clients had not applied for the solar systems, the Hawks said.

As a result of the alleged fraudulent transactions as claimed to have been committed by Theunissen, Nashua was required to refund the finance house and suffered financial losses.

A criminal case was opened, and the matter was referred to the Hawks for further investigation. The investigation culminated in Theunissen’s arrest on 27 October.

He was released on R3 000 bail after appearing in court. The matter was postponed to 2 February 2027 for transfer to the Commercial Court.

Theunissen faces allegations of fraud, forgery, uttering and money laundering.

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