A motorist who was caught in transit with lots of cash stashed in his boot has been sentenced to five years in prison.
The motorist was stopped when he was on his way driving to Botswana from Gauteng.
Nicholas Fouche was convicted of fraud and sentenced by the Lephalale regional court.
Hawks spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke said the 25-year-old was also served a suspended sentence of four years for money laundering.
He was nabbed on August 7 last year after customs officials stopped him at the Stockpoort port of entry near Lephalale.
“He was asked if he had anything to declare to the customs officials before crossing the border into Botswana and his response was that there was nothing to declare.”
However, the officials were persuaded to search his vehicle “and to their astonishment, a stash of R1,750,000 cash was found hidden inside a bag in the boot of his vehicle.”
Fouche appeared in court several times on this matter.
The court granted him R150,000 bail until he was found guilty of fraud on September 11.
He was sentenced on Tuesday.
The R1.75m has been forfeited to the state.
