SA aviation group CEO linked to pilot hostage situation in DRC arrested on fraud charges

John Perlman gets an update from Eyewitness News reporter Orrin Singh.

United Aviation Group CEO Jonathan Wolpe has appeared in court after being arrested on charges of fraud.

Wolpe is implicated in a major fraud case involving over R9 million say the Hawks, related to a contract entered into with the Democratic Republic of Congo during elections last year.

RELATED: SA pilots held hostage in Kinshasa after aviation CEO dupes DRC government

Two South African pilots were reportedly held against their will in the DRC after a deal between the Group and a company contracted to do presidential election work for that country's government went sour.

Eyewitness News reporter Orrin Singh explains that the case currently before court was opened with the Hawks in Gauteng by the subcontracted company.

"Wolpe had secured this contract and had basically not provided the services he was meant to... and the subcontractor alleged he'd made off with more than R9 million that is due to them."

Orrin Singh, Reporter - Eyewitness News

"The Hawks pounced on Wolpe on Monday and he appeared in the Joburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palmridge. He's expected to make an application for bail on Wednesday, but is currently in custody."

Orrin Singh, Reporter - Eyewitness News

Singh says that according to the information available to him, one of the Durban-based pilots dropped their own charges against Wolpe after the family reached out to try and reach a settlement around the money this pilot is allegedly owed.

Listen to Singh's update in the interview audio at the top of the article