Cape Town - A Rondebosch jeweller accused of a multi-million rand fraud failed to arrive for her court appearance on Monday.
A warrant for arrest for Ferial Mohamed-Bobat will be issued if she again fails to appear on February 6, a magistrate at the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court warned.
In September 2011 she was arrested on charges of theft and fraud.
This followed allegations by clients, who had entrusted jewellery to her Damjee Bros Jewellers store, that their property had not been returned. She is currently out on R25 000 bail.
Mohamed-Bobat and her husband Denish Nathoo, the former owners of Damjee branches in Cavendish Square and Rylands, also stand accused of defrauding insurance companies out of more than R1 million.
The couple lodged claims after an alleged break-in at their Rondebosch East home and were paid R760 000 for jewellery (by Zurich Insurance) and around R292 000 for household items by another insurer.
The State alleges that the break-in was staged with the intention of defrauding customers and the insurance companies. Both Damjee Bros branches were subsequently closed.
The charge sheet, presented at court on Monday, notes that the couple received jewellery from customers for repair, manufacture and design according to specifications. Deposits were paid in many instances.
In April 2011, a case of house robbery at Bobat’s Rondebosch East residence was opened. Mohamed-Bobat reported to police that jewellery belonging to customers amounting to R900 000 was stolen.
The State alleges she lied to 114 customers when she informed them that insurance did not pay out. Police subsequently recovered some of the jewellery from Mohamed-Bobat’s Claremont flat.
Cape Argus