Two women accused of defrauding 80 victims out of nearly R1,9m in a Thailand travel scam will remain behind bars until their hearing on December 4.
Beneta Jansen and Prudence November face over 80 counts of fraud, theft and money laundering after allegedly promoting a fictitious holiday package to Thailand for R26 000 per person, IOL reports.
Despite payments being made between June 2022 and July 2024, the promised trips never materialised.
The suspects, who ran a travel company registered in their names, reportedly advertised the package on social media. Victims from across South Africa – including Gauteng, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape – paid the required fees into their accounts.
When the trips failed to materialise, complaints were filed at various police stations nationwide, prompting an investigation by the Western Cape Provincial Commercial Crimes Investigation Unit.
Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie of the South African Police Service, said the suspects had been unable to provide satisfactory explanations for the missing funds.
During the suspects’ recent appearances in the Somerset West and Strand Magistrates’ Courts, the State described the alleged offences as a Schedule 5 crime due to the substantial amount involved, opposing bail for both accused.
