EASTERN CAPE:- Griessel Michael Peter (59) was released by Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court on R30 000 bail on Friday, 6 May 2022,  after his arrest by Mthatha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks on the same day.

It is alleged that during the period between 29 April 2017 and 31 June 2017, Peter who owns a car dealership in Johannesburg allegedly colluded with Libenberg Johannes Wellem previously arrested on the same matter, also released on bail on his appearance in court.

Wellem was employed as a sales Manager at Ronnie’s Motors in Mthatha. He reportedly targeted customers whose vehicle finance applications were declined and manipulated the company systems in order to approve the declined applications by making misrepresentations that the clients had traded in some cars.

It is alleged that once the system approved the applications, he would not inform the clients but instead release the cars to Peter without any money paid to Ronnie’s trust account. The vehicles would be sold at Peter’s dealership, once sold, the duo would tshare the proceeds amongst themselves.

Hawks investigation uncovered a total of forty (40) vehicles sold in this fashion. Ronnie’s Motors was consequently prejudiced cash to the value of more than R10.5 million in this orchestration.

The Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks apprehended Wellem in December 2020.  Further investigation led to the additionally arrest of Peter on 6 May 2022.

Peter will join his co-accused Wellem when he appears in the same court on 24 June 2022.

Source: South African Police Service