Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Fraudster hands himself in
Oliver Thal’s victims breathe sigh of relief
CONVICTED fraudster Oliver Thal, accompanied by his lawyer, handed himself over at the Midrand Police Station in Joburg on Wednesday. Police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo confirmed to Weekend Argus that at about 7am he walked into the police station and was later taken to the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court. He has been released on bail and will appear at the same court on May 7.
Last week the Weekend Argus reported that Thal managed to evade arrest after he was found at premises in Bellville on February 19. Police let him go a few hours later because his warrant had been cancelled. The warrant was then reissued on February 20 and an attempt to rearrest him on February 21 proved fruitless according to a reliable source.
Police are investigating why and how the initial warrant was cancelled.
Thal has managed to escape a few times. Police raided his home in Bellville and he managed to escape, while his wife was arrested. Western Cape SAPS confirmed to Weekend Argus that a docket for defeating the ends of justice was opened by Brackenfell SAPS.
He was arrested for allegedly defrauding a Gauteng woman of about R300 000. He created a profile on an international dating site and posed as a single father looking after his 6-yearold son. He told her he had properties and offered to sell her property in Cape Town. She gave him R150 000 deposit for an apartment in Cape Town and another R150 000 for a stand situated in Houghton.
“I am going to feel better when I get my money back or he serves a term for what he has done to me and others. I think it is another game he is playing. I just hope the file does not disappear as the warrant did,” said the victim.
Victim Madelaine Gome in the Western Cape opened a case against Thal at the Milnerton Police Station after he promised that he could get her a car at a reasonable price. She had been referred to Thal by a colleague who had ties with him. Gome made a deposit of R55 000 into the colleague’s account. He said he could also sell her property in Woodbridge Island and she paid him R80 000, then R20 000.
She later realised that he had made empty promises and he made a false payment at first of about R55 000 back to her. However, she was able to get him to pay back R50 000 but still owes her about R100 000.
“I feel excited that he has handed himself over. I mean I wonder what changed for him to hand himself over, probably realised that he can’t get away from being recognised. However, I am disappointed that he was given bail, I mean what is stopping him from fleeing because he has a dual passport,” said Gome.
Thessa Wright attempted to open a case against Thal after his then-company did not finish building in Kempton Park. She was allegedly told that the case was a civil matter. He allegedly owes them about R90 000. He was also referred to Wright by a colleague who claimed that Thal had done work for him before.
IRS Forensic Investigations head office was part of a multidisciplinary task team from both state and private law enforcement to investigate and trace Thal.
With the assistance of the mainstream media, the pressure of this investigation culminated in Thal handing himself over to the police for processing.