Detectives at the Provincial Commercial Crime Unit investigated several cases of fraud and arrested two suspects aged 62 and 63 on Tuesday, 24 August 2021, on the mentioned charges.
During the course of July 2021, various retired S A Defence force members laid criminal complaints against a retired “Colonel” and his cohorts for fraudulently representing to the retired members that the Queen of England and the British Army made millions of dollars available, as a pension payout to each such retired applicant.
It is alleged that at least 40 000 retired members responded to the “Colonel”, and as part of the application paid an R40 administration fee, with the hope to receive the pension payout.
Based on the envisaged pension payouts, the “Colonel” managed to further obtain loans, in excess of R2 million, with the promise to repay the loan when the funds are cleared in South Africa.
The execution of search and seizure operations at the “Colonel” and others involved and further investigations, led to the arrest of the two suspects, who will appear in the Paarl Magistrate’s court today, 26 August 2021.
Victims of this fraudulent scheme are warned not to respond to Conradie and or his agent’s requests for payments and is kindly requested to contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Andre Pekeur at 083 270 9034 with information.