A Gqeberha accountant made a brief appearance in court on Friday for allegedly stealing over R11 million from a Spar franchise in Despatch.
Jonathan Blow was arrested by the Hawks on Friday.
According to the preamble to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed between September 2020 and March 2022, when he “unlawfully transferred 105 amounts totalling R11.478 million rand to his business account.
Blow is the sole director of PE Accounting Solutions in Walmer, and rendered “accounting, payroll and creditor payment services on a monthly basis for an agreed fee.”
The State said in order for him to render these services, the “accused requested and was given full access and administrative rights to Despatch SuperSpar’s trading bank accounts.”
It further alleged that between 11 September 2020 and 10 March 2022, Blow, in addition to the fees for which he invoiced, “unlawfully transferred 105 amounts totalling R11 478 350 from the aforesaid trading accounts to the bank account of PEAS.”
According to the document, he made 24 repayments to Despatch SuperSpar of more than R4.903 100. “The actual loss suffered by the complainant and Despatch Superspar, there amounts to R6 575 250.”
Blow was remanded in custody at Mount Road Police Station until Wednesday for a bail application, due to “uncertainty” related to Monday’s national stay-away.
The court, however, agreed with the State that further to that, and in the interest of fairness, Blow will be held at St Albans Correctional Centre.
