Staff Reporter
Two suspects aged 34 and 40 were expected to appear before the Smithfield Magistrates Court today facing charges of fraud and stock theft after they duped a Free State farmer into believing they represented a leading commercial bank.
This led the farmer to enter what he thought to be a lucrative deal involving about 1 300 sheep worth nearly R5-million.
The meticulous crime, which spanned across three provinces, took the Wepener Police Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit two months to unravel.
The police probe took place between the Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces between December 2020 and February 2021.
“The suspects acted on false pretenses as they claimed to be representing a certain bank that works with farmers,” said provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele.
“(They) entered into a business deal with the owner of Heuningkraans Farm that involves 1 000 ewes and 300 rams valued at R4.9 million,” he added.
The famer, according to the police, then delivered 800 sheep to Louis Trichardt in Limpopo as per the agreement with the suspects.
He became suspicious when no money was deposited into his bank account for the delivery he made.
He decided to call the suspects and they were not available on their cellular phones and he contacted the bank directly.
But to his shock, he was told the bank had no business with him.
He immediately contacted the police.
Makhele said the two suspects were arrested after they were found in possession of the sheep.
At least 561 of the 800 sheep were recovered by police.
One suspect was arrested in December in Giyani, Limpopo, and he has since appeared in court and was granted R10 000 bail with strict conditions.
