The lead investigator in the case, Colonel Oscar Mopedi, uncovered that the victim’s email correspondence with their conveyancing attorney had been intercepted during the house purchase transaction.

Samson, the scammer, managed to manipulate the communication by substituting the attorney’s legitimate banking details with those linked to a fraudulent Bank of America account.

Unknowingly, the victim transferred over $200,000 (approximately R3.2 million), which was later funnelled into various South African bank accounts.

The court heard that Samson personally benefited to the tune of R1.9 million from the stolen funds.

In aggravation of sentence, Senior State Prosecutor advocate Ronel Dookun submitted that these types of crimes are complex to detect, investigate, and prosecute, often involving sophisticated networks and high-level planning.

She argued that sentences must reflect the serious impact these crimes have, especially when committed purely for self-enrichment. The court further remarked on the economic harm caused by such transnational crimes, particularly considering South Africa’s grey-listing, which damages the country's international financial reputation and suggests it may be a haven for criminal proceeds.

The court sentenced Samson to 10 years' imprisonment for theft and another 10 years for money laundering.

“The NPA emphasises that internationally, complex corruption and fraud cases can take an average of eight years to finalise, due to their intricate nature. Within South Africa’s adversarial legal system, guilty pleas in such cases remain uncommon, contributing to prolonged litigation timelines,” Mjonondwane said.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL

Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.