FILE PHOTO: Police vehicle heading to court. PICTURE: Roxy de Villiers
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0 PRETORIA: Mr Kimber was granted a R100 000 bail and set to appear again in court in August for fraud.
Hawks’ Serious Economic Offences Unit has arrested a Kimberly-based businessman for allegedly defrauding another businessman from the United Kingdom of millions. The accused, Mr Christopher David Kimber handed himself to the Hawks offices in Kimberley yesterday, the Hawks reported.
Mr Kimber was charged with two counts of fraud, two counts of money laundering and was taken to court. He appeared in the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court and he has since been released on R100 000 bail.
In a statement issued by the Hawks, “it is alleged that in 2013, Kimber who owns mines in the Northern Cape met with the businessman from the United Kingdom over an investment of buying 50% shares of his businesses.
“The businessman reportedly paid R147 million into Kimber’s bank account but the money was transferred into personal bank accounts, thus no investment was made,” the statement reads.
“When the businessman realised that no investment has been made, he reported the matter to the police. The Hawks conducted an investigation which led to Kimber’s arrest,” conclude the statement.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane, Mr Kimber “…..purported to investors that the mining company was producing more than 3,000 carats of diamonds per month and encouraged them to invest in this company. This is while he was aware that the company was producing less than the estimated carats in diamonds.”
“One of the bail conditions is that the accused should inform the investigating officer of his movements,” he said.
Mr Kimber is expected to return to court on 17 August 2023.
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