GEORGE NEWS - A 39-year-old man who defrauded a home seller of R300 000 in a bogus property transaction has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment in the George Regional Court, with half of the sentence suspended.
Riaan Dandrey Belelie was convicted and sentenced on Wednesday 21 May, after entering into a plea agreement with the state on charges of fraud, forgery and uttering.
According to a Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, the charges relate to a fraudulent transaction in August 2018 when Belelie pretended to purchase a house from the complainant for R780 000.
"He was required to pay a R350 000 deposit upon signing the contract, with the remaining R430 000 to be paid in three instalments. He also agreed to pay R5 000 monthly rent from September to November 2018 while occupying the property," said Hani.
Just two days after the agreement was signed, the complainant received what appeared to be a legitimate proof of payment for R300 000, sent via email on a Standard Bank letterhead. Based on this, Belelie was allowed to move into the house.
It later emerged that the proof of payment had been forged.
The matter was reported and led to Belelie's arrest and subsequent prosecution. The complainant suffered a potential financial loss of R300 000.
Belelie will effectively serve four years in prison, with the remaining four years suspended for five years.
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