ABERDEEN NEWS - In June 2016, hunter Michael Cockburn first came to the attention of the local police after a fraud case was opened against him.
An Aberdeen farmer responded to an online advertisement in which Cockburn was offering a giraffe for sale for R15 000.
The purchaser says he paid the amount in full, but despite repeated requests, and frequent promises from Cockburn to deliver, the giraffe was never received by the farmer.
A case of fraud was opened, and initially investigated by Warrant Officer Welcome Tiya. At the beginning of 2018, Detective Constable Jean Jack was assigned to the case, with assistance from Warrant Officer Jos Erasmus.
With persistence and after acting on information received, eventually Cockburn was tracked down in Kimberley.
He was arrested last week by the Kimberley police, and Aberdeen detectives Warrant Officers Willie van Zyl and Naude Frazenburg went to Kimberley to collect the suspect last Tuesday.
Cockburn appeared in court in Aberdeen last Thursday, and will be appearing again on 30 May for a formal bail application. He has been remanded in custody in Graaff-Reinet.
It is thought that others may have fallen victim to Cockburn’s alleged scams, and investigating officer Detective Constable Jack would like to hear from anyone else who has had any dealings with the suspect.
He can be contacted on 082 442 3032 or 049 846 0544.
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