Former Fidentia boss released on parole on Thursday

The former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown was released on parole on Thursday.

BROWN SERVED SEVEN YEARS OF HIS SENTENCE

According to reports, he had been held at the Voorberg Medium B Correctional Centre in Porterville.

Brown was released from the department’s offices in Cape Town on Thursday morning after serving seven years of his sentence.

Spokesperson for the department of correctional services, Singabakho Nxumalo, told the media Brown was released from prison on Thursday.

“This decision was taken by the correctional supervision and parole board, having assessed Brown’s profile and other material submitted for the purposes of parole consideration.”

“Classified as a first-time offender with a positive support system, Brown’s parole placement is in line with section 73 of the Correctional Services Act. The act determines the minimum period of sentence that must be served before consideration may be given for possible parole placement.”

According to Nxumalo, Brown was supposed to be released in August 2019, “but he could not be placed on parole at the time as there was a need for further profiling”.

He added that Brown takes responsibility for the offences he committed and was remorseful.

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Brown was sentenced in 2014 to an effective 15 years behind bars for two fraud charges after the Supreme Court of Appeal set aside his previous sentence handed down by the Western Cape High Court.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) appealed the R150 000 fine and suspended sentence handed to him in May 2013.

Brown had approached the Constitutional Court, which had dismissed his application.

He was convicted for his handling of investments between 2002 and 2006 for the Transport Education and Training Authority and the Mantadia Asset Trust Company (Matco).

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