Alleged conman awaits fate

Final argument heard in case involving string of alleged fraud victims

Four years in and out of court and a slew of bizarre answers all came to a head yesterday as jack-of-all-trades Jason Wood’s fate was left in the hands of the court.

As the prosecution called for the alleged conman to be found guilty of fraud, Wood, all the while maintaining his innocence, insisted that the complainants had merely “jumped on the bandwagon” when they spotted his name in the newspaper.

Wood, 43, of Circular Drive, was arrested in 2013, after he allegedly fleeced a string of Port Elizabeth residents out of a combined R1.4-million through a variety of schemes between January 2011 and July 2012.

One by one, the alleged victims – a clinical psychologist, a businessman and an unemployed former friend – testified as to how they allegedly lost their cash through business transactions involving the selling of animal hides, vehicles and upholstery contracts.

A betting clerk said she had to fork out R7 000 from her own pocket after Wood allegedly bet on horse racing, and then fled when he lost.

But yesterday, as final argument was heard in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court, Wood said he had either paid back the outstanding money, or accused the alleged victims of lying.

Magistrate Hannes Claassen will deliver his judgment on March 16.

Confident that Claassen would come back with a not guilty verdict, Wood said in the passages of the court building that after his acquittal he planned to sue Weekend Post and sister newspaper The Herald.

State advocate Lise Keech, meanwhile, argued that it was unlikely the victims – all from different walks of life and who had never even met each other – would similarly lie to the court.

“The complainants all told how he promised each one of them that they would see a profit on their cash within six days,” Keech said.

In the case of Julie Solomons of Hollywoods Sportsbook, Keech said Wood wanted the court to believe the bizarre story that he had made the bet on behalf of a jockey, who was not allowed to bet on the horses. “If the accused had a gambling problem, he could have taken the court into his confidence and informed the court of this, but he chose not to.”

Defence attorney Masunet Strydom argued that Wood’s version was reasonably, possibly true. She said the state had a selective memory when it came to how much money the complainants received from the investments.

Wood has two previous convictions for fraud and theft dating back to September 2005 and March 2009 respectively. He received suspended sentences in both instances.