FREE STATE – The accused Paul Marc Sonnekus (37) appeared before the Bethlehem Magistrate Court on Monday, 12 July 2021 facing charges of fraud.

It is alleged that over the period between April 2018 and August 2018, Sonnekus, employed as a farm worker, used his employer’s account to buy goods on several occasions without the farmer’s concern.

The employer was not aware of the unlawful activity on his account, as a result he suffered a total loss of approximately R213 500-00. The matter was then reported to the police and a case was handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Bethlehem for further investigation.

Sonnekus was issued with summons on Thursday, 25 February 2021 to appear in court on Monday, 12 April 2021. He failed to appear in court on the said date and a warrant of arrest was issued by the court which led to the arrest of Sonnekus on Monday, 12 July 2021 and first appearance in court.

The case against Sonnekus has been postponed to Thursday, 29 July 2021 and the accused was released on a R5000 bail.

Source: South African Police Service