The fraud case of an alleged conman was postponed in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Monday because the presiding magistrate was not available.
Jason Wood, 40, who allegedly defrauded Nelson Mandela Bay residents out of about R1.4-million through schemes, made a brief appearance in court where judgement was expected to get underway.
Wood, a so called ‘jack of all trades’ allegedly defrauded at least 14 investors out of their hard earned cash through a string of fraudulent schemes, these included trading in second-hand cars, exotic animal skins and an upholstery business.
The case against Wood has been on the roll since 2013 and over the years the alleged conman has become notorious for delaying tactics.
At his last court appearance last month, Wood claimed that he was too sick to listen to Magistrate Hannes Claasen’s judgement.
An emotional Wood made a dash for the toilet after indicating that he was going to be ill. The matter was postponed accordingly to give Wood time to recover.
The State alleges that Wood used his close corporation, Woodies Upholsterers, as a front and wooed unsuspecting investors by duping them out of hundreds of thousands of rands.
Charges against him include 18 counts of fraud, failing to make out annual financial statements and managing a corporation while disqualified.
This is not the first time Wood has had a run in with the law. He has two previous convictions for fraud and theft dating back to 2005 and 2009, for which he received suspended sentences.
According to the state he is in contravention of the Close Corporations Act – which states that no person with a theft conviction may manage a business.
The case was postponed until April 11 for judgement.
-African News Agency (ANA)
