A case against R 1.8million worth of alleged policy fraudster postponed

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Photo: supplied \NPA

A case against a policy fraudster has been postponed to Wednesday for formal bail application.

The 69 years old Stephanus Johannes Janse Van Rensburg appeared briefly at the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on charges of fraud amounting to just over R1.8 million.

Eastern Cape NPA Spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani said this incident occurred between July 2008 and March 2015, where Janse van Rensburg allegedly sold nine Old Mutual and Momentum second hand policies to his client Esther Freesia Adendorff.

It was also said that the accused was Adendorff’s financial broker.

“He allegedly convinced her to buy existing policies of third parties in exchange for her to become the missionary and a new owner to whom the claim is transferred on the said policies.”

“It is alleged Van Rensburg convinced Adendorff to sign cessionary agreements and to pay over the agreed amounts. She made 15 payments in total from July 2008 to October 2011 which totalled R1 874 370.”

“On a yearly basis, Van Rensburg furnished Adendorff an annual summary indicating current value of her portfolio. It is alleged that as proof of the existence of the cessionary contracts, Van Rensburg provided her with copies of the ceded policies and a summary of her investment values for tax purposes.”

“On 27 May 2015, Adendorff’s son, Ralph Adendorff, requested copies of documents related to the policies. It is alleged Van Rensburg failed to provide the documents despite numerous requests.”

“Investigations revealed that the Old Mutual and Momentum policies were never transferred or registered in the name of Adendorff. Furthermore, the policies never originally belonged to particular individuals as Van Rensburg allegedly informed Adendorff.”

Van Rensburg was arrested by the Hawks Monday morning and his case was postponed to Wednesday 10 February 2020 for the formal bail application.