Fraud accused linked to R Kelly

2006-05-25 08:39

Nivashni Nair

Durban - South African police officers might go to California in the United States to interview R&B artist R Kelly's agents who allegedly received R10.8m from a Durban woman who was arrested for fraud.

Police discovered that Busiswe Zakwe, who was accused of defrauding hundreds of KwaZulu-Natal investors, had deposited R10.8m into the bank account of R Kelly's agents however at this stage haven't yet established why the payment was made.

The Durban regional court this week provisionally withdrew fraud charges against Zakwe to allow the State time to finalise its investigation and to establish how R Kelly's agents were linked to the Durban woman. Police have indicated that American police will assist with the investigation.

Zakwe was arrested and her business premises were raided after police received complaints that the 45-year-old woman had used R Kelly's name to con investors.

"It is alleged that she told people to invest over R10 000 with her and when R Kelly came to South Africa, they will benefit from the ticket sales from the concert. However, R Kelly didn't come to South Africa and the woman allegedly ran away with their money," police spokesperson Captain Gugu Sabela explained at the time of the arrest.

Zakwe allegedly defrauded investors of more than R1.8m. It is alleged Zakwe and her late husband used their company, BPJR Financial Institution located at West Walk in Durban as the headquarters for their schemes.

Zakwe made headlines last year when she was on the run after police questioning. After several media statements requesting assistance from the public to locate Zakwe, she was arrested on July 5 last year.

- The Witness