Fake house sale transactions finally landed a 33-year-old man from Rosedale, Upington, in jail.
Granville Saunderson was incarcerated for two separate fraud cases, said Sgt Omphile Masegela, police spokesperson in the ZF Mgcawu District in the Northern Cape.
Saunderson was initially convicted in the Upington Regional Court in August 2023 for fraud where it was alleged that he defrauded his victim of R178 000 through a fake house sale transaction in December 2022.
For this, he was sentenced to six years imprisonment suspended on condition that he compensated the victim. Saunderson was released on a repayment arrangement, which he failed to honour, stated Masegela.
Upon this, a warrant of arrest was issued, and his six years imprisonment sentence became effective after his re-arrest in May this year.
Meanwhile, upon his arrest, another case against him was under investigation during which he advertised a house for sale in October 2023.
The unsuspecting victim who was interested in buying the house, started communicating with him. After an agreement of a purchase price of R140 000 was made, the victim was granted a draft sale agreement while occupying the house.
The victim paid an amount of R70 000 into the account of the accused. The victim later learnt that the house does not belong to the accused, and the sale transaction illegitimate.
Saunderson was recently convicted for Cyber Fraud and Money Laundering in the Upington Regional Court. He was sentenced to eight years and five years of imprisonment respectively, which will be served concurrent with the previous charge.
The determination and excellent investigation by Sgt Tshepo Morwaagae of the Rosedale Detectives, to fight against fraudulent activities, was lauded by the management of the police in the Northern Cape.
