Johannes Lotter (39) and his wife Chantele Lotter (40) the owners of Dirk Lotter Transport, allegedly opened another trucking company using an employee’s name and made him the director without his consent.
The Lotters appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of fraud and forgery.
They were granted bail of R20 000 each after handing themselves over to the Hawks.
Free State Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said Dirk Lotter Transport owner Johannes, registered another company, Sebete Transport in May 2018.
Matoti said Lotter registered an employee of his at Dirk Lotter Transport as the new company’s director, without his consent.
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“The complainant was ordered to sign documents without a chance to read and understand the documents. After the complainant discovered that he was registered as a director of the company, he questioned his employer about his position and role in the new company,” said Matoti.
Matoti said the employee was later dismissed for asking about his position at Sebete Transport.
“Further information revealed that his signature was forged as if he had resigned from the company,” she said.
After the employee was dismissed, Chantele became the owner of Sebete Transport.
Matoti said the matter was postponed to 19 May for further investigation.
