N$2.5m cigarette fraud trial nears end
The trial of two men allegedly acting with common purpose to steal cigarettes worth N$2.5 million from a Walvis Bay warehouse was postponed to 26 June for the preparation of heads of argument.
The two accused allegedly stole the goods from the then Indo Atlantic, now rebranded as Commercial Investment Corporation (CIC) warehouse on the pretext that they were ordered by clients.
The accused, Dawid Martin Bezuidenhout, a former cigarette sales representative for the company, and Venecia Ann Koning, a clerk for the company, completed their testimonies in defence of their case. Cross-examination was also completed on Friday.
The two are now being accused of fraud and theft by false pretence.
They allegedly created invoices for large quantities of stock from the main warehouse of CIC in Walvis Bay. It is alleged that the accused pretended to have received orders from clients and created these invoices. They are accused of acting with a common purpose between the period October 2006 to 20 August 2007 at Walvis Bay, and having defrauded Indo Atlantic. According to the State, Koning paid cash amounts into the accounts of other clients for whom Bezuidenhout had created false invoices for cigarettes that were never delivered.
According to the evidence, he delivered 1 000 packets of Benson and Hedges Special Mild while the small retailer, Trust Market, was invoiced for 3 000 packs. Another delivery showed he delivered 6 000 packs of Dunhill King Size and 4 000 Peter Stuyvesant to Walvis Bay Self Service while the customer was invoiced for 14 000 packs of Peter Stuyvesant and 16 000 packs of Dunhill. According to the State, he stole the excess cigarettes, sold them and pocketed the proceeds.
The State alleges that Bezuidenhoudt defrauded other clients who included Kuiseb Shop 4 Value, Bargosa Wholesalers, Walvis Bay Self Service, Parade Supermarket, Trust Market, Metro Walvis Bay, Metro Swakopmund, Shoprite U Save, Shoprite/Checkers Walvis Bay, Sentra Portuguese Market, Spar North Rand Henties and Shoprite Swakopmund.Regarding the invoice numbered 200/900, for goods valued at more than N$80 900 made out to Maboza Wholesaler, Walvis Bay, Koning agreed that the copy presented as evidence by the State was not ticked by her or the customer who allegedly received the goods.
She further said she heard the evidence of a witness from the Bargosa store who testified that the quantity of goods and their value was out of the store's range. She denied the allegations put to her by State Advocate Simba Nduna that she generated the invoice while knowing the goods were not ordered or received.
Judge Alfred Siboleka presides.
FRED GOEIEMAN
The two accused allegedly stole the goods from the then Indo Atlantic, now rebranded as Commercial Investment Corporation (CIC) warehouse on the pretext that they were ordered by clients.
The accused, Dawid Martin Bezuidenhout, a former cigarette sales representative for the company, and Venecia Ann Koning, a clerk for the company, completed their testimonies in defence of their case. Cross-examination was also completed on Friday.
The two are now being accused of fraud and theft by false pretence.
They allegedly created invoices for large quantities of stock from the main warehouse of CIC in Walvis Bay. It is alleged that the accused pretended to have received orders from clients and created these invoices. They are accused of acting with a common purpose between the period October 2006 to 20 August 2007 at Walvis Bay, and having defrauded Indo Atlantic. According to the State, Koning paid cash amounts into the accounts of other clients for whom Bezuidenhout had created false invoices for cigarettes that were never delivered.
According to the evidence, he delivered 1 000 packets of Benson and Hedges Special Mild while the small retailer, Trust Market, was invoiced for 3 000 packs. Another delivery showed he delivered 6 000 packs of Dunhill King Size and 4 000 Peter Stuyvesant to Walvis Bay Self Service while the customer was invoiced for 14 000 packs of Peter Stuyvesant and 16 000 packs of Dunhill. According to the State, he stole the excess cigarettes, sold them and pocketed the proceeds.
The State alleges that Bezuidenhoudt defrauded other clients who included Kuiseb Shop 4 Value, Bargosa Wholesalers, Walvis Bay Self Service, Parade Supermarket, Trust Market, Metro Walvis Bay, Metro Swakopmund, Shoprite U Save, Shoprite/Checkers Walvis Bay, Sentra Portuguese Market, Spar North Rand Henties and Shoprite Swakopmund.Regarding the invoice numbered 200/900, for goods valued at more than N$80 900 made out to Maboza Wholesaler, Walvis Bay, Koning agreed that the copy presented as evidence by the State was not ticked by her or the customer who allegedly received the goods.
She further said she heard the evidence of a witness from the Bargosa store who testified that the quantity of goods and their value was out of the store's range. She denied the allegations put to her by State Advocate Simba Nduna that she generated the invoice while knowing the goods were not ordered or received.
Judge Alfred Siboleka presides.
FRED GOEIEMAN
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