Oudtshoorn – Convicted fraudster Jacques Thomas du Preez, 55, officially started serving his five-year jail term on Friday following his arrest by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) serious commercial crime unit in Oudtshoorn on the same day, the Hawks said on Saturday.
Du Preez was sentenced in the George Magistrate’s Court in November 2015 for fraud and theft after he swindled a client of about R900 000 deposited into Du Preez's law firm trust account, Western Cape Hawks spokesman Captain Lloyd Ramovha said on Saturday.
"He subsequently appealed the sentence and was out on bail pending the outcome of his appeal.
However, in November 2016 his appeal was unsuccessful and he was accordingly ordered through his attorney to report to a correctional facility.
Du Preez failed to adhere to the order, a warrant of arrest was issued, and he was sought, culminating in his capture on Friday by the elite unit.
"It is further alleged that, while awaiting the court’s decision on his appeal, the accused reportedly went on coaxing R5 donations from his Facebook followers and locals under the guise that it was to pay for one of his needy client’s legal fees, further apparently stating that this was in exchange of the free legal advice he had given to the locals over the years; this separate matter is however still being probed," Ramovha said.
Western Cape Hawks head Maj-Gen Nombuso Khoza said she was pleased that Du Preez had started serving his sentence and that justice had been served.
“We are committed to rooting out rogue elements from our communities regardless of their standing in society, without fear or favour,” she said.