Pretoria - A man and a woman who allegedly defrauded several people to the tune of R800 000 while trading as Soldiers for Christ Ministry were granted bail after being charged for fraud on Tuesday.
Deon Niemandt, 45, and Era Duminy, 41, appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria and were granted bail of R1 000 each.
They are said to have defrauded people in Wonderboom, north of Pretoria, by offering them professional services such as pastoral care and counselling, despite not being registered to perform those services.
The two were arrested following an investigation that lasted for more than a year related to alleged fraudulent activities, which were conducted in Gauteng as well as other provinces.
Police said they expected that more victims would come forward as the investigation continued. The suspects were facing more than 100 charges of fraud.
According to police, several victims reported that the suspects would charge them for services which were rendered under false pretences.
The suspects also pretended to be pastors for the Full Gospel Church Eloffsdal, where they had rented an office. Police seized several documents from the premises that may add more fraudulent charges against the suspects.
State prosecutor, advocate Willem van Zyl told the court they did not oppose bail, but asked that conditions be set for the pair, including that they not contact the people who laid charges against them - one of the witnesses had said she feared for her life following their arrest.
They also have to report to the Wonderboompoort police station every Monday and Thursday.
Van Zyl initially told the court that the State would be proposing that bail be set at R5 000.
However, their defence suggested a bail of R2 000.
Magistrate Martin van Wyk set bail at R1 000 each and postponed the matter to November 29 for further investigation.
Niemandt was reported to be suffering from ill health on Tuesday, while Duminy appeared relieved after being granted bail.
Their family members were present in court, but did not sit in during proceedings, and hugged the pair when they walked out of the courtroom after the matter was postponed.
The Pretoria Central family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit has also appealed to victims who may have been ministered to by the suspects to come forward.
Pretoria News