Former prison warder jailed for fraud
2010-11-16 21:41
Cape Town - A former Pollsmoor Prison warder was effectively jailed for nine years on Tuesday on multiple fraud charges.
Carl Haggard, 47, pleaded guilty to 73 counts of fraud involving R11 222 900, and contraventions of the Banks Act, as well as legislation pertaining to financial services.
The proceedings, in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court, took the form of a plea-bargain agreement betweem the Western Cape Specialised Commercial Crime Unit head Malini Govender, and defence attorney Riaan Nabal.
According to the plea-bargain document, Haggard obtained a paraffin distribution licence from the Total Oil Company, to distribute paraffin in townships and rural towns.
As the business grew, a Total representative provided Haggard with a 2000 litre paraffin tank with pump and meter, which enabled Haggard to extend the business to the Tulbach, Wolsley, De Doorns, Touwsrivier, Maatjiesfontein, Ashton, Bonnievale and Villiersdorp areas.
Ostensibly to finance the bulk purchase of paraffin, Haggard started the investment scheme, offering monthly interest of between R5 000 and R10 000 on R100 000 investments.
He also undertook to pay investor's taxes levied on their monthly returns.
According to the plea bargain document, Haggard used new investments to pay the interest on older investments, but never intended to use the money invested for the purchase of paraffin.
Haggard admitted that the scam involved dishonesty, breaches of trust with the investors and careful planning.
According to the document, Haggard was a prison warder from May 1984 to June 1986.
He is unable to repay the investors, the document said.
- SAPA
