Western Cape police have nabbed a man who had managed to avoid arrest for ten years after defrauding close to R18.4 million from unsuspecting victims in a farm investment scheme.
34-year-old Gerhard Niewoudt Olivier managed to remain at large for ten years, however his flight from the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation came to an abrupt end when he was arrested on Thursday, 5 March 2020 in Cape Town.
Olivier appeared in the Malmesbury District court yesterday on allegations of gradually stealing almost R18.4 under the guise of a farm investment scheme.
He allegedly fleeced potential investors to buy farm equipment and feed in return for a fee.
Olivier is also accused of deceiving members of a farming co-operation by falsely representing himself as a wealthy farm owner and promising to provide them with farming resources.
Olivier was granted R50 000-00 bail with stringent conditions. The case has been postponed to 09 April 2020 when he will be appearing in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
The Hawks in the Western Cape have called on any victims who might not have registered a case to come forward.