MODIMOLLE detectives on Monday arrested the man who allegedly defrauded the owners of Imvubu Lodge and Richards Bay Caravan Park of more than R2-million – and counting.
According to reports, the suspect, who was arrested at a luxury hide-out in Meerensee, has been on the SAPS wanted list since 2008 after a warrant of arrest was issued against him in Modimolle.
He allegedly promised the complainant in the Modimolle case to install kitchen cupboards for her, but after the woman paid a large deposit into his account, he disappeared without trace.
He was arrested and charged with theft, released on bail but fled his trial.
In September last year the owner of Imvubu Lodge and Richards Bay Caravan Park, Tienie Ferreira, concluded a sales agreement with a purchaser, who introduced himself as Johan Nepgen of the Batho Pele Trust IT 2131/13.
The purchaser also took possession of four residential properties belonging to Ferreira.
He thereafter breached the signed purchase agreement, which was according to Nepgen drafted by his lawyer.
‘Due to my serious illness, we allowed him to take over the day-to-day management of the establishment, pending the transfer of the properties.
‘Nepgen took over with his own management team, but subsequently failed to issue bank guarantees for the purchase price,’ Ferreira said.
‘We gave him several months of grace after repeated promises that the guarantees would be delivered.
‘Our legal representative finally placed him on formal terms to rectify the breach within seven days, which he also failed to comply with.
‘In terms of the law we repossessed the property. We are in the process of fine-combing the administration and bank statements pending a full investigation and legal advice over possible civil and criminal recourse.
‘After the repossession of the properties, the family discovered that the money for bookings was never deposited into the bank accounts of the business as agreed, but was in fact channelled to Nepgen’s private account.’
One of the houses was also stripped of all finishes.
According to the Ferreira family, their damages are currently over R2-million, excluding damages to the residential property and loss of rental income on the other three.
