By  News24.comSaturday, September 24, 2016 06:40

A man convicted of investor fraud was sentenced to three years house arrest by the Western Cape High Court last year.

Gary van der Merwe’s sentence comes more than 10 years after his first appearance in a Bellville court.

His conviction related to fraud of more than R11.9m committed in 2002.

A co-accused, Paul Kilian, was previously found not guilty on three counts and discharged.

Van der Merwe had faced 11 counts of investment fraud, income tax fraud, and VAT fraud.

The State believed he was the mastermind and author of an overarching scheme to enrich himself, using other people both wittingly and unwittingly.

The charges emanated from an investigation by the Scorpions into the affairs of World Online Limited, Wealth International Network, and Wellness International Network in 2003.

Judge Andre le Grange on Friday handed down seven years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition he not be convicted of fraud, theft, or any attempt to commit those crimes during that period.

During his house arrest, Van der Merwe would be required to undergo at least 16 hours of community service a month.

He was barred from using alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.