Mbombela - Another accused in the R11-million fraud case, Kerry Anne Avent (31), was arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit on Tuesday, October 15, on charges of fraud and theft.

This latest arrest follows that of Carol Ann Event (46), and her four co-accused, Lucy Andrea Du Preez (50), John Avent (53), Piet Albertus Meintjies (36), and Maria Antoinette le Roux (49), who were all arrested last week in connection with the theft of more than R11 million, allegedly stolen from a Nelspruit-based entity from 2010 to 2016. Accused Carol Ann Avent, a former bookkeeper at the said entity, allegedly diverted the stolen funds to her family members’ accounts by means of fictitious transactions. She was arrested in 2016 and charged with 1 150 counts of fraud, and was subsequently released on bail of  R5 000. She is yet to be sentenced after having being found guilty on all counts in December 2018.   

All the accused have been granted bail of R3 000 each in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court. The case will continue in the same court on November 5.     

Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Subeditor: Lynette Brink
Submitted by: Capt Dineo Sekgotodi