Kimberley Regional Court Sentences Man for Vehicle Fraud
The Kimberley Regional Court has convicted and sentenced a 50-year-old man, Hanro Pietersen, to six years of imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm. The sentencing took place on March 5, 2025.
According to police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane, the sentencing is in regards to an incident that happened in December 2020 when Pietersen visited the complainant at Riverside Farm near Plooysburg. He claimed to be a mechanic capable of repairing the complainant’s Nissan X-Trail, valued at R70,000. The complainant allegedly paid Pietersen R15,000 for the repairs, after which the accused towed the vehicle to Kimberley.
Instead of repairing the vehicle as agreed, Pietersen fraudulently transferred ownership by forging the complainant’s signature at the Kimberley Traffic Department. After completing repairs, he then sold the vehicle to a buyer in Roodepan, Kimberley. However, police successfully recovered the vehicle.
