10 March 2022
The duo identified as Ms. Marlene Lewarne ( 54) and Mr. Anthony Lewarne (57), who were arrested by the Hawks Serious Crime Investigation were released on warning by the Middelburg Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 08 March 2022.
According to Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, the accused’s were arrested for contravention of section 18(2)(a) of the Riotous Assemblies Act 17 of 1956 in that the accused conspired to commit theft and fraud.
“Their acts also contravened the Consumer Protection Act in that they operated an investment scheme with a combined value of R 4,796 595-00”, added Sekgotodi.
In addition to their charges is the contravening section 11(1) of the Banks Act 90 of 1990 which restricts persons to conduct a business of a bank unless such a person is a registered as a bank in terms of the Act and further contravening section 7(1) of the FAIS Act 37 of 2002 which restricts a person from rendering financial services without a valid license to do so.
The accused persons were also found to be in contravention of section 4 , section 1 and Section 8 of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act 121 of 1998, and according to the said section, a proper punishment for a person to be convicted for contravention of section 4, 5 & 6 of POCA would be a fine not exceeding R100 million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 30 years.
The matter was postponed to 20 May 2022 for legal representation.
