Ex-Fidentia boss Brown surrenders

Disgraced businessman J Arthur Brown handed himself over to the police yesterday following a dramatic reversal of his fortunes.

The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on Monday changed a suspended sentence of a fine and 18 months' imprisonment to 15 years behind bars. A warrant for his arrest was issued by the Cape Town High Court yesterday.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube confirmed last night that Brown had handed himself over.

On Monday acting Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Mahomed Solomon Navsa sentenced Brown to 15 years in prison.

The founder of the Fidentia Group was last year convicted of two counts of fraud after being accused of stealing millions of rands from, among others, the widows and children of mineworkers.

Judge Anton Veldhuizen had sentenced Brown to a R75000 fine or 18 months in prison, suspended for four years.

The NPA appealed the judgment amid public outrage.

Dube Tshidi, executive officer of the Financial Services Board, this week said Brown's original sentence was a "complete miscarriage of justice".