CAPE TOWN - Convicted fraudster attorney Wharren Fortuin has been sentenced to nine years behind bars for the theft of just over R1 million from a trust account.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said Fortuin, 41, committed fraudulent acts for more than two years between January 2012 and January 2014.
“Fortuin, in the course and scope of his practice as an attorney, received funds which he was obliged to hold in trust.
“During the period January 2012 to January 2014, the monies received from the claimants were not kept in trust, nor used for the intended purposes, but were instead misappropriated. The court has further ordered that Fortuin be declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Hani.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said they welcomed the sentence. “It confirms the fight against corruption,” he said.
Meanwhile, a 66-year-old alleged pyramid scheme fraudster, accused of soliciting R3.1 million in funds from individuals to trade in crypto currency platforms, is set to appear in court next month.
The man, facing 34 counts of fraud, was served with a court summons by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team on Wednesday, and will appear in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court on October 28.
“The suspect is facing about 34 counts of fraud, one of money laundering and one count of contravening the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FIAS) Act.
“It is alleged that the accused solicited funds from members of the public of just over R3.1m that would be used to trade in crypto currency on the forex platforms.
“It was stated that the invested funds would yield guaranteed monthly returns of approximately 4%. This was never the case as the funds were instead laundered into other various bank accounts where it was used for personal gain,” said Hani.
Cape Times