Top NC cricket official sentenced for fraud

THE FORMER financial manager of the Northern Cape Cricket Union, Jean Pierre van Niekerk, was convicted on charges of fraud and was sentenced to four years imprisonment by the Kimberley Specialised Commercial Court on July 31.

He was arrested by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Unit in December 2023.

Hawks provincial spokesperson, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi, said the accused was found guilty of misappropriating funds belonging to his employer between July 2022 and March 2023.

“Payments that were due to service providers were deposited into his personal bank account. The entity suffered an actual loss of R424,071.”

She stated that Van Niekerk was sentenced to four years imprisonment for fraud.

“The accused was sentenced to another 12 months imprisonment on another fraud charge, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence during this period.

“The accused was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.”

The provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major-General Stephen Mabuela, applauded the investigation and prosecution team.