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- The court found Jens Leunberg and his girlfriend, Kristina Adler, guilty of the murder of Claus Schroeder.
- The murder occurred on a farm in Hankey in 2009.
- Schroeder’s body was never found.
A German couple was found guilty of murdering another German citizen after the victim, who had sold a farm to the couple, visited him to find out when the money from the sale would be transferred.
The Eastern Cape Superior Court in Port Elizabeth on Friday found Jens Leunberg, 42, and his girlfriend, Kristina Adler, 44, guilty of the murder of Claus Schroeder, as well as accomplices in murder and fraud.
According to the National Tax Authority (NPA), Leunberg and Adler first visited South Africa in May 2007 for a vacation and, a year later, they visited the country on business and spouse visas, which were fraudulent.
NPA spokeswoman Anelisa Ngcakani said the couple had met the victim and his wife, Tanja, in Jeffreys Bay in 2007.
“Adler and Leunberg then indicated to the Schroeders that they were interested in buying a farm in the Jeffreys Bay area. The Schroeders saw this as an opportunity to sell their farm, Owvanuk, near Thornhill, in the Hankey district.” Ngcakani said.
The court heard that, on October 18, 2007, a memorandum of sale agreement was drawn up between Thornhill Ubuntu Tourism Activities CC, the buyer, represented by Adler, and DTTC Investments CC, the seller, represented by Tanja, for the sale of the farm for R8.5 million.
“The buyer undertook to provide the seller with proof that he had obtained a loan before November 15, 2007. The buyer further agreed to pay the seller R13,000 per month as occupational rent for the farm, starting on January 15, 2007. 2008 until the farm is transferred in the name of the buyers. “
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Then, Adler provided Tanja with a fraudulent bank guarantee, in the amount of R8.5 million, from ING Bank in Germany on November 13, 2007.
“Induced by the misrepresentations, the Schroeders granted Leunberg and Adler the occupation of Owvanuk Farm on January 15, 2008.”
Before murdering Claus, Leunberg and Adler committed another act of fraud while applying for a business permit for Thornhill Ubuntu Tourism Activities CC at the Department of Internal Affairs on April 11, 2008.
“The department required a certificate from a public accountant establishing that at least R2.5 million in cash and a capital contribution of at least R500,000, originated abroad, was available to be invested as part of the book value of the business.
“Adler and Leunberg submitted a fraudulent online printout of Deutsche Bank in Adler’s name, stating that, on May 5, 2008, his account was worth € 347,252.62.”
More than a year after the sale agreement was signed, Schroeder visited the farm on August 14, 2009 because he was concerned that the R 8.5 million had not yet been transferred.
Ngcakani said Leunberg lured Claus into a ravine on the pretext that his vehicle had gotten stuck. Once there, he killed him.
It is not known how Schroeder was killed as his body was never found, but witnesses testified that they saw Leunberg emerge from the bushes with blood on his clothes.
Ngcakani added that DNA evidence was also found on Leunberg’s vehicle, even though the couple had attempted to clean the vehicle after the murder.
The German couple were arrested more than a year later.
In rendering the verdict, Judge Thembekile Malusi said he was satisfied that the state had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and found Leunberg guilty of murder and two counts of fraud.
In addition, it found Adler guilty of being an accessory to murder and two counts of fraud.
The matter has been postponed to April 7, 8 and 9, 2021 for sentencing procedures.
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