Ralph Trevor Damonse (57), Isak Albertus Saal (48), Reginald Le Fleur (62) and Manuel Cohen (66) appeared at Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville on Friday facing charges of fraud and money laundering valued at R 8.6 million.
They were arrested through court summons (J175) on 15 March which serves as a notice to appear in court. This follows Hawks investigation into the alleged misrepresentation to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
The two farms, one worth R3 million located Vredendal and another valued at R5.6 million in St. Helena Bay, were granted to the suspects as part of the government programme to correct past imbalances.
The suspects allegedly sold for R3 million, a portion of the St Helena farm which they acquired through the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) grant.
Their case was remanded to 24 May 2019 for further investigation.
