A Capetonian fraudster who ran an online dating scam in which he pocketed thousands of rands from vulnerable women was sentenced by the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday, April 29.
According to IOL, 36-year-old Chinonso Pascal Eze was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Eze was allegedly convicted on 23 counts of fraud and nine counts of money laundering. He was handed down 10 years, of which four years are suspended for a period of five years on the condition that he is not found guilty of fraud during this time. Another 10 years for money laundering of which five years were suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty.
During November 2017 and January 2018, Eze allegedly gained the trust of his victims, defrauded them and made a total of R314 950. His dating profiles allegedly portrayed wealthy men who were in a position to repay the victims.
In 2018, the accused along with his 26-year fiance, Pamella Mendrew‚ appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on the same charges. At the time the prosecution revealed that it would oppose the duo’s bail application when they bring a formal application, Times Live reported. A pregnant Mendrew at the time was then released on R3000 bail. Meanwhile, the court has ordered his sentences to run concurrently where he will effectively serve six years in prison.
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