A Port Shepstone accountant was arrested and released on R3,000 bail after allegedly defrauding a game reserve, situated on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, of R1.3m.
Marius Du Plessis, 43, appeared in the Port Elizabeth Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Anelisa Feni said Du Plessis was the owner of a Port Shepstone-based accounting and tax services company that was contracted to the reserve.
“It is alleged that between May 2016 and June 2017 the game reserve made a number of deposits to Du Plessis’ bank account in order for his company to register the employees of the game reserve at the Department of labour for the Workers compensation.
“The accused allegedly never registered the workers of the game reserve and instead used the money for personal gain,” she said.
He will appear in the same court on February 11.