Chopper warrant

A WARRANT has been issued for the immediate arrest of a Paarl businessman facing fraud charges involving the sale of two helicopters.

Barend Hendrik Oberholzer, 33, was to have pleaded to the charges on Thursday in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville, but was absent when prosecutor Juan Agulhas called his case.

The State alleges he sold a 2008 model Robinson 44 Raven 2 helicopter to a couple for R3.1 million, but fraudulently delivered an older model with considerably more flying hours.