COUPLE SENTENCED FOR USED VEHICLES SALE SCAM

WESTERN CAPE – A married couple, Erens Johannes Uys (53) and Crische Uys (36) received hefty fines and suspended sentences in the Bellville Serious Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday for vehicle finance fraud related offenses.
The pair was arrested on a search warrant on 23 August 2015, by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime investigation team. This was after it emerged that they were duping customers in their second hand motor vehicles business. Their modus operandi was, they would buy used vehicles and put them on sale, demand substantial deposits beforehand. Three or more prospective buyers would be duped into paying a deposit for the same vehicle. In the end none of the victims would receive the vehicle in question nor their money back.
They were charged for contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), in a range of counts that included fraud, theft, forgery, money laundering and racketeering amounting to over R600 000. The court found the couple guilty as charged and sentenced them as below.
Crische was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment wholly suspended for 5 years. Additionally she was given a fine of R20 000-00 payable by Wednesday 31 March 2021, failure of which she must serve six (6) months direct imprisonment. Meanwhile Erens received a 10 years prison term wholly suspended for 5 years and further ordered to refund an amount of R623 000 to the victims.