Raymond Joseph
Police say Mark Thatcher will be subpoenaed as a state witness in the fraud and theft trial of officers who acted as “bookrunners” for his failed money-lending business.
Police say 11 of Thatcher’s runners have been identified. At least three runners will appear in court by the middle of next month, and others may be called as state witnesses.
The matter is being investigated by a special task force set up by Western Cape police Commissioner Leon Wessel.
Using his network of runners, Thatcher penetrated police stations, army and navy bases, magistrate’s courts and government offices throughout the Western Cape and parts of Durban. Thatcher charged 20% a month interest on outstanding loans, and targeted poorly paid policemen, military personnel and civil servants.
Police say Thatcher is “co-operating fully” and has handed over documentation relating to his business, Matrix Capital, after police issued a Section 205 order compelling him to do so. By last December his runners had signed up 900 borrowers, and his total loan book was worth at least R2-million.
His company’s record-keeping was shambolic. Receipts, when issued, were often written on scraps of paper. Many people are now denying ever borrowing money, some are disputing the amount they are said to owe, while others are simply refusing to repay their loans.
His company has been using lawyers and debt collectors in an attempt to collect outstanding loans, and summonses have been issued against people who are refusing to pay.
Confirming that summonses had been issued against defaulting lenders, Thatcher said: “The law must now take its course.” He added that he had been “informally informed that I am not a target of any police investigation”.
But police representative Senior Superintendent John Sterrenberg said the commissioner was not aware of any assurances that Thatcher would not be investigated.