Alleged wedding scammer caught in Denver Park
After evading the police for months, a wanted fugitive was apprehended in Denver Park in George last Thursday, 4 April. Martinette van Hansen (39) appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Monday, 8 April where the matter was postponed to 16 April for a bail application. She is detained at the Goodwood Prison.
Hansen has been on the run since last year after a warrant of arrest was issued in October 2023.
According to reports Van Hansen lived in Malmesbury at the time of the alleged fraud but disappeared after charges were laid.
Lt Col Malcolm Pojie, the provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest. “We can confirm that the 39-year-old alleged fraudster for whom a warrant of arrest was issued for offences reported at Durbanville SAPS during March 2023, was arrested with the assistance of detectives attached to our Provincial Organised Crime Investigation unit based in George and a female member from Pacaltsdorp Crime Prevention unit.”
Pojie said Van Hansen will be facing charges of contempt of court relating to cases of theft and fraud.
He said more charges could be brought against the accused as the investigation unfolds.
At least three bridal couples have accused Van Hansen, who claimed to be a wedding planner, of scamming them out of thousands of rands after she failed to deliver on services she was paid for.
One case was reported in Durbanville and two in Paarl.
The cases were centralised to the Durbanville Police for investigation.
The victims also sought the help of the private investigator, Willem van Romburgh of DNC Investigations, to assist with the investigation.