Interrogation over sex, money and lies had a jiu jitsu coach and convicted money launderer fumbling for words yesterday as he tried to talk his way out of a 15-year jail sentence by passing the buck to his former lover.
Jason Hendricks was forced to admit to an affair with his co-accused before his extravagant spending habits left even the magistrate shocked in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court.
In just three months he spent more than R5-million – all the proceeds of theft – on a top-of-the-range BMW, a R1.6-million house and a trip to Brazil.
Hendricks’s co-accused and former lover, Danielle Norman, admitted to stealing about R16-million from the South African Express Line (Sael) before she and Hendricks laundered the money through their Newton Park gym, Invisible Jiu Jitsu.
They will hear their fate today. Magistrate Louis Claassen is expected to hand down sentencing after closing arguments.
Norman was employed as a manager of Sael’s Port Elizabeth branch at the time of the thefts between May 2010 and September 2012.
Her position allowed her to requisition cheques from Sael’s head office on the basis she had received invoices from suppliers, to authorise those cheques for payment, and then to enter them into Sael’s account books.
She would then transfer the money into Hendricks’s personal bank account, after which it was paid into their business account.
They were arrested in May 2013, following a probe by the South African Revenue Service, which ultimately exposed their illegal activities.
Norman pleaded guilty to charges of theft and money laundering, while Hendricks pleaded guilty to the count of money laundering only.
They each face a prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years in jail.
Testifying yesterday in mitigation of sentence, Hendricks painted a picture of an innocent man duped by his lover.
He started a sexual relationship with Norman, who was also in a relationship at the time, in 2005.
He then moved to Cape Town, where he later got married and Norman remained in Port Elizabeth. He said towards the end of 2010, however, they reconnected via social media.
“In about 2011 Danielle and I managed to see each other again.
“Things were not good between my wife and I, and Danielle was someone I could speak to, she was my best friend.”
He said he spoke to her about his dream of opening a jiu jitsu gym, together with a feeding scheme.
“She said she had business contacts who often got involved in welfare projects.”
Hendricks and his wife then moved back to Port Elizabeth.
“All of a sudden money started coming into my bank account. Danielle said a business account would be opened. I didn’t think there would be a problem.”
Hendricks said he would draw a salary of R50000 a month, this despite his gym not yet bringing in much business.
He said Norman bought him a BMW, which he then traded in for a newer model, and he bought a house for R1.6-million.
“I trusted her with my life.”
State advocate Tjaart van Zyl said the only person he felt sorry for was Hendricks’s wife, who would have to continue to pay back the money even after Hendricks goes to jail.
Court told of sex, lies, theft
Jason Hendricks was forced to admit to an affair with his co-accused before his extravagant spending habits left even the magistrate shocked in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court.
In just three months he spent more than R5-million – all the proceeds of theft – on a top-of-the-range BMW, a R1.6-million house and a trip to Brazil.
Hendricks’s co-accused and former lover, Danielle Norman, admitted to stealing about R16-million from the South African Express Line (Sael) before she and Hendricks laundered the money through their Newton Park gym, Invisible Jiu Jitsu.
They will hear their fate today. Magistrate Louis Claassen is expected to hand down sentencing after closing arguments.
Norman was employed as a manager of Sael’s Port Elizabeth branch at the time of the thefts between May 2010 and September 2012.
Her position allowed her to requisition cheques from Sael’s head office on the basis she had received invoices from suppliers, to authorise those cheques for payment, and then to enter them into Sael’s account books.
She would then transfer the money into Hendricks’s personal bank account, after which it was paid into their business account.
They were arrested in May 2013, following a probe by the South African Revenue Service, which ultimately exposed their illegal activities.
Norman pleaded guilty to charges of theft and money laundering, while Hendricks pleaded guilty to the count of money laundering only.
They each face a prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years in jail.
Testifying yesterday in mitigation of sentence, Hendricks painted a picture of an innocent man duped by his lover.
He started a sexual relationship with Norman, who was also in a relationship at the time, in 2005.
He then moved to Cape Town, where he later got married and Norman remained in Port Elizabeth. He said towards the end of 2010, however, they reconnected via social media.
“In about 2011 Danielle and I managed to see each other again.
“Things were not good between my wife and I, and Danielle was someone I could speak to, she was my best friend.”
He said he spoke to her about his dream of opening a jiu jitsu gym, together with a feeding scheme.
“She said she had business contacts who often got involved in welfare projects.”
Hendricks and his wife then moved back to Port Elizabeth.
“All of a sudden money started coming into my bank account. Danielle said a business account would be opened. I didn’t think there would be a problem.”
Hendricks said he would draw a salary of R50000 a month, this despite his gym not yet bringing in much business.
He said Norman bought him a BMW, which he then traded in for a newer model, and he bought a house for R1.6-million.
“I trusted her with my life.”
State advocate Tjaart van Zyl said the only person he felt sorry for was Hendricks’s wife, who would have to continue to pay back the money even after Hendricks goes to jail.
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