Cape Town — The son of Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe is to answer in court next year to charges that he defrauded people and businesses of more than R500 000 over two years.

Thuthuka Hlophe, 26, appeared briefly in the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court yesterday where a plea proposal was due to be heard.

But prosecutor Sylvan Africa told the court the plea negotiations "did not materialise", and that a trial date had subsequently been arranged with the defence.

It is the State's case that Hlophe opened fake bank accounts at FNB and Absa in the name of Siphesihle Linda Ntombela, and forged an ID by inserting his picture into Ntombela's existing document, pretending to be him.

It is also alleged that during specific months in 2007 and 2008 Hlophe used false bank statements and cheques to buy goods from businesses in Table View and Milnerton.

He has been charged with 16 counts including fraud, theft, uttering false documents, alternative theft, alternative uttering, defeating the administration of justice and contravening sections of the Identification Act.

In the main count, Hlophe stands accused of supplying two false cheques to Hendrik van den Berg for the purchase of a BMW 330i worth R400 000 in September 2007.

In August the following year, Hlophe allegedly misrepresented to Colin Abrahams that he wanted repair work done on a black BMW at a cost of nearly R20 000.

"He knew well that he was not going to pay for the repairs because he was not the owner of the vehicle," the charge sheet says.

In other instances, Hlophe allegedly wanted to buy wooden boards for about R4 000 with fake Absa cheques.

Hlophe, who owned the company Changing Addresses CC, which traded as Moving Addresses, was arrested on March 18.

He is out on a warning.

Magistrate Amrith Chabilall postponed the case for trial, which is set to run for four days from March 29 next year.