The accused Akak Leandre Ekoto (49) appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 20 July 2022 where he was convicted and sentenced on a charge of fraud.
It is alleged that in 2019, Ekoto approached the victim and informed him that he is a business man dealing with the distribution of chemicals.
The victim then decided to invest in the business so that he can become a distributor in the Bloemfontein area.
The victim then deposited R432 000-00 on 16 September 2019 and R98 000-00 on 2 October 2019, into two different accounts of the accused.
After the victim deposited the money Ekoto failed to deliver chemicals to the victim as agreed. On 6 December 2019, Ekoto made contact with the victim and requested further amount of R45 000-00.
The victim informed the local police in Bloemfontein who then arrested Ekoto on the same day.
A case docket was registered and handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for further investigation which culminated to the conviction of Ekoto. The court sentenced Ekoto to twenty five years direct imprisonment for fraud.
The Hawks’ Provincial Head in the Free State, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba welcomed the sentence and appreciates the work done by the investigating officer and the Prosecutor in ensuring that the evidence brought before the court led to the conviction of the accused.
