POLOKWANE – According to a press statement from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (Hawks), Robberts was re-arrested by members of the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Unit after appearing in court in Bellville last Thursday.
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Robbertse appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court on Tuesday, where the case against her was postponed to 9 February.
Bail was successfully opposed and she will therefore remain in custody awaiting her court date.
According to Hawks Spokesperson Lloyd Ramovha, it is believed Robbertse “continued with her old modus operandi of defrauding people with apparent bogus airplane tickets and holiday package scams, all while still being out on bail and probation due to previous similar offences”.
The alleged travel scams have since Robbertse’s first arrest made national headlines and the modus operandi is this: Robbertse is said to have conned prospective travellers in an e-ticketing scam. Consumers would pay monies into Robbertse’s personal bank account to secure tickets. Travel dates would usually be confirmed later. Their bookings were mostly illegitimate, clients soon realised.
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In May 2017, Travel News Weekly reported on alleged scams, while The Sunday Times in the same month reported on a lawyer and his family who were interested in buying a family holiday package to Mauritius.
After paying a deposit, the man however started his own investigation as the fares seemed too good to be true, and the deal’s trail led him to Robbertse, who apparently also does business under the name Cindy van Rooyen.
A Facebook Group, ‘Action Against KR’ is also currently active with 321 members in the closed group.
Several cases of fraud were made against her at the Durbanville Police Station.
Robbertse has also changed legal representation several times.
Phokoane Pasha has been her legal representation since she was arrested in January this year.
Initially, the court date was moved from April to September, but due to her giving birth in August, the matter was again postponed to October.
At the time, there was the possibility of a conflict of interest, Pasha told Review, and he withdrew as her legal representative.
This issue was, however settled and on 17 November, they agreed that he should represent her, according to Pasha.
“On 24 November, I however had prior commitments and could therefore not accompany her to court. The court, however, did not accept my letter which explained the situation and my client was arrested shortly after the court dismissed.”
Robbertse’s first court appearance was before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in March 2015. The case was provisionally withdrawn as the matter had been referred to the Hawks for an investigation, and re-opened after a wave of fraud complaints against her.
Prospective travellers who fell victim to Robbertse can contact investigating officer Gerhard Erasmus at erasmusgerhard@saps.gov.za or (021) 918 3000.
