The scambag who used the cold-blooded murders of two police officers in a money scheme has been found guilty of fraud.
Former police reservist Brent Bouwer appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to three charges of collecting donations from the public under false pretence.
The charge against Bouwer, 43, relates to three separate incidents where he went around and collected R100 donations from three different people.
Bouwer told his victims that the donations would go to the families of Warrant Officer Girshwin Matthee, 39, and Constable Cannon Cloete, 23.
The two dedicated officers were shot dead last month after they were lured into an ambush in Wallacedene. It is alleged they were targeted by a syndicate who hunt cops for their guns.
Bouwer admitted that he had pretended to be a member of the South African Police Services so that he could use the kindness of strangers to enrich himself.
He also admitted that he knew his actions were wrong and that he was fully aware that he was breaking the law.
Seconds after the court accepted his guilty plea on Thursday, prosecutor Valencia van der Berg told the court that Bouwer has a string of previous convictions.
* In 2002, he was found guilty of reckless and negligent driving.
* In April 2004, he was found guilty of theft.
* In October of the same year, he was found guilty of a separate case of theft.
* In January 2010, he was convicted of violating the road traffic act.
* In May 2010, he was found guilty of assault.
Bouwer, who worked at Lansdowne and Claremont police stations, looked defeated as his previous convictions were listed.
He sighed upon hearing that he would have to spend another month in jail before he was finally sentenced.
Van der Berg asked the court to postpone the matter to August 22 so that officials can investigate if he is a candidate for correctional supervision rather than jail time.
* This story was published in the Daily Voice on p10