Conman caught in own trap

29 August 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

Mpumalanga police are looking for the victims of a man who fraudulently solicited cash donations under the auspices of existing companies.

Police said that the man claimed he owned the companies for which he inappropriately acquired the donations.

Nelspruit police spokesman Davie Pretorius yesterday said Sunnyboy Mhlanga, who identified himself as David, might have conned many people in Mpumalanga.

He allegedly posed as a wealthy, upright and sophisticated man while duping the unsuspecting victims.

"The latest forms he was carrying asked for donations for 'his' company, Shautany Chocolatiers.

"The forms indicated that he had been raising funds for child welfare aid since 2005," said Pretorius.

Pretorius said Mhlanga had allegedly gone to ask for a R500 donation from a furniture shop on behalf of Shautany Chocolatiers.

But the firm denied knowledge of such a fund-raising venture prompting the shop to alert the police.

Mhlanga was arrested the next day and appeared in the Nelspruit magistrate's court on charges of fraud yesterday.