Captain Lloyd Ramovha, spokesperson for the Gauteng Hawks, confirmed the arrest of Wolpe, a director at United Chartered Flight Services, in connection with a major fraud case involving R9 million. The arrest was made on Monday, following an investigation by the Gauteng Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit (SCCIU).
The fraud case, registered at Diepsloot police station north of Johannesburg in February 2024, centers on Wolpe’s alleged actions involving charter flights from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to South Africa. It is believed that Wolpe fraudulently accepted payment for these charter flights but failed to deliver the promised services, instead misappropriating the funds for personal use. As a result, the complainant suffered a financial loss of R9 million.
Wolpe faces charges alongside his company and appeared before the Palmridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday for an initial hearing. The case has been postponed to Wednesday for a formal bail application.
Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, head of the Hawks in Gauteng, expressed his support for the arrest, commending the professionalism and dedication of the investigative team. “This arrest highlights our continued efforts to combat fraud and theft,” Kadwa said.
Recent crime statistics from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu reveal a significant rise in commercial crime in South Africa, with an 18.5% increase in cases reported between July and September.
