A Palm Ridge couple is out on bail of R10 000 after allegedly swindling millions of Rand out of an unsuspecting investor.
Mark Dean Kitchenbrand, 53, and Naomie Elizabeth Kitchenbrand, 57, appeared in the local magistrates court on Tuesday after they handed themselves over to the authorities on the same day.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso says the couple convinced the complainant to invest in their financial services company and promised him shares and lucrative returns.
Captain Rikhotso says between 2015 and 2019, the unsuspecting investor allegedly made numerous deposits into the suspects’ business account and additional payments in cash.
“The investor never received the returns and the shares as promised,” he said, “propelling him to report the matter to the police”.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Germiston probed the matter, resulting in the arrest of the couple.
“They were each released on R10 000 bail and the case was postponed to 31 January 2024 for further investigation,” Captain Rikhotso said.
The Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa commended the investigating team for their exceptional work.
