File photo: February 2020
The fraud trial of two Gqeberha investment brokers accused of duping investors out of more than R17 million is expected to continue in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday.
The 32-year-old Michael Rathbone and his 30-year-old partner, Leon Lewitton were arrested by the Hawks in November 2019, for illegally operating their investment company known as Helping Hands Investment between June 2016 and July 2019.
According to the Hawks, the pair allegedly recruited investors from Gqeberha and surrounding areas and promised a 15 -45% return per annum.
They were previously remanded in custody for a month before they were granted bail of R50 000 each.
The duo's case was transferred from the city’s Magistrates Court to the Commercial Crimes Court in March last year where they face a total of 193 charges which include fraud and theft.
The trial is expected to get underway on Monday.
