MAN SENTENCED TO A LENGHTY TERM FOR REPEATED CRIMES OF FRAUD
The Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court sentenced Christjan Hendrik Coetzer to 75 years imprisonment on multiple counts of fraud, theft and money laundering worth almost one million rands. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, resulting in an effective imprisonment term of 20 years.
On 09 October 2015, Coetzer was in the company of a white ladywho misrepresented herself as Mrs Angelia Evangelia Kallinkos,arrived at ABSA Vereeniging branch and pretended to be an attorney of the High Court of South Africa. He further stated that he was lawfully appointed by the holder of the bank account (Kallinkos) and that he should be granted access to perform transactions from his client’s account. The consultant believed this misrepresentation and granted the required access. Between 09 October and 07 November 2015, a sum of R956 900-00 was transferred from the real Mrs. Kallinkos’ account to that of the accused. The lawful holder of the account reported the case after a shocking discovery that all her money was gone.
Coetzer was arrested after the investigating officer (IO), Sergeant Tiyani Hlungwani walked into a courtroom at SCCC where the accused was applying for bail in another matter and heard the name of the suspect he was looking for.
Senior State Advocate Tilas Chabalala then instructed the IO to bring the Vereeniging docket and submitted in court that in considering a just sentence, the court must consider that the accused was not a first offender and that he has a number of previous convictions, including a pending case before the SCCC where he was released on bail of R100 000. He further argued that ABSA Bank suffered reputational damage because in the mind of the holder of the targeted account and those close to her, the bank failed to protect her savings.
The NPA welcomes the sentence as it serves to instil faith in the criminal justice system, sending a message that white collar criminals will face the full might of the law.
