A 39-year-old Nigerian national, Gabriel Okori, has been remanded in custody in South Africa following his arrest for allegedly defrauding a woman of R3 million in a romance scam.
Okori, who posed as a white man named “Mark Hermanus” on Facebook, appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, October 7, 2024.
Okori’s arrest took place last Thursday in Cape Town, carried out by South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), with the assistance of the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement and a private security firm.
According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, the victim initially met “Hermanus” on Facebook, after which the two transitioned to communicating via WhatsApp.
“Hermanus” claimed that his son was seriously ill, convincing the woman to send money for medical expenses. Over time, the victim transferred over R3 million, believing she was helping him pay for his son’s treatment.
The suspect never repaid the woman as promised, leading her to report the case to the Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation unit. After an investigation, Gabriel Okori was identified and arrested in Cape Town.
Okori made his first court appearance in Pretoria, where the case was postponed until October 14.
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