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Hofman Case Investigation
Former accountant reluctantly consents to extradition order
Attorney-General of Australia weighs Hofman case
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ROCKHAMPTON, Australia – More than sixteen years after Fed Siebold Hofman fled Canada aboard a flight from Seattle to the Netherlands, he has reluctantly consented to return to Canada on an extradition order to face over fifty charges of fraud and theft. The former Vancouver accountant (70), in Australia known as Piet Cornelius Walters, who has no lawyer, told the Rockhampton Magistrates Court he wants to go back to Canada because no one is helping him to pay for his defense in Australia.
Fugitive from Canada wins appeal in Australia
Another bump in Hofman/Walters saga
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CAIRNS, Australia – Based on a technicality, the Queensland Court of Criminal Appeal has allowed an appeal against the conviction of Piet Cornelius Walters, known in The Netherlands and Canada as Fred Sibold Hofman,. The Court has set aside the conviction and ordered a new trial. He currently remains in jail.
Convicted conman impressed Australian acquaintances with Dutch royal kinship
Extradition sought by unnamed countries
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CAIRNS, Australia - An international tug-of-war has begun over a conman who stole millions of dollars from mum-and-dad investors in small communities in northeast Australia. Piet Cornelius Walters, in Canada known as Fred S. Hofman Sr., found guilty in Cairns District Court of stealing almost $1 million of the $10 million that vanished in his illegal investment scheme, may never spend one day of his eight-year jail sentence in an Australian prison.
Hofman’s repossessed antiques sold at an Australian auction
Fugitive from Canadian justice to face judge ‘down under’
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LAUNCESTON, Tasmania – The private antiques collection, owned by fugitive Fred S. Hofman – in Australia he is known as Piet Cornelus Walters – was auctioned in Launceston recently. The elaborate collection had lavishly decorated Hofman’s Georgian mansion until it was repossessed.
Former accountant Hofman wanted on RCM Police website
Millions sunk in "Ponzi" scheme
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Fugitive Dutch-born former accountant and 'investment counselor' Fred Siebolt Hofman now is listed on a RCM Police website as one of Canada's Most Wanted. Hofman (now 61), has been charged with 31 counts of theft and 30 counts of fraud totaling approximately $9.7 million. Hofman was last seen on or about April 26, 1991, when traveling to the Netherlands.
Investors lose claim against accountants' group
Canada's Supreme Court declines case
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A case involving the fugitive former Certified General Accountant Fred S. Hofman and the CGA professional association will not be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. One of Hofman's former investors earlier won a lower court judgement against the association but lost it when the defendants appealed the case.
Member quit Hofman-club in disgust after trying year
Investment document of 1965 telling
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VANCOUVER, B.C. - While investors with fugitive accountant Fred Hofman are wondering about their millions, at least one former member of a 1965-investment club led by Hofman still likes to know what happened to the $850 he contributed then to the club's war chest. Six men each chipped in $500 to get the club off and running, this month exactly thirty years ago. 'Even though I pressed him regularly for information, I never got a clear answer,' says Binne, a Dutch-Canadian professional.
Professional group had duty to warn public, says Justice
Couple successfully sues Association in Hofman-case
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia - An elderly immigrant couple who lost its life's savings to a former certified general accountant - now a fugitive from justice - successfully sued Fred Siebolt Hofman' professional organization for having failed to enforce disassociation terms after he resigned during an investigation into his conduct. The Schillings, who arrived from New Zealand in 1985, argued that they would have demanded the return of their money had they known that Hofman was no longer a CGA.
Case of elusive accountant continues to baffle everyone
Third anniversary of Hofman's disappearance
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VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is not the only party who wishes to have a serious talk with Dutch-born Fred S. Hofman. It, as well as many of his family members and former friends, associates and acquaintances would love to hear from the disappeared Dutch-Canadian accountant and financial advisor where their money was spent or is stashed away.
Australian attempts to bilk victims out of more money
With promises of information
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SURREY, BC - Victims of fugitive accountant Fred S. Hofman, who are looking for tens of millions of dollars, in recent days have been contacted by an Australian who says he can lead them to secret bank accounts where funds are being held. The man who purports to be operating with a partner, wants anywhere from US$5,000 to US$50,000 before disclosing any information.
Hofman stymied member of investment club
Relation went sour in 1966
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VANCOUVER, BC - The disappearance of the former Certified General Accountant (CGA) Fred S. Hofman of West Vancouver continues to be a serious concern to his former 'clients,' many of whom invested large amounts of money with him. Complaints to the Commercial Crimes Division of the RCM Police after a 22-month period still have not resulted in charges against Hofman.
Millions of invested dollars unaccounted for
Former CGA disappears from the scene
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VANCOUVER, BC - A former certified general accountant has gone into hiding, leaving dozens of (Dutch-born, Dutch-descended and non-Dutch) investors in many types of 'investment schemes' wondering what has become of their money. The offices of the former CGA have been cleared out and are presently for lease. Clients of the man received their tax-papers only days before the compulsory filing deadline. While the RCMP commercial fraud section refuses to disclose anything about their investigation, it has been confirmed by some affected individuals that officers have been working on the case for about a year. A meeting of creditors, meanwhile, has instructed a steering committee to attempt to put Fred S. Hofman Sr. and his companies into bankruptcy.
Australian prosecutor to lay more charges against former accountant
Hofman out on Aus$50,000 bail
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CAIRNS, Queensland - A man at the centre of an alleged multi-million dollar unregistered investment scheme walked from the Cairns court-house after raising bail of Aus$50,000 cash. ‘Piet Cornelius Walters’, 66, in the Netherlands and Canada known as Fred Siebolt Hofman, has been charged with illegally obtaining $150,000 from an investor between May 26 and July 16 last year.
Fugitive former accountant faces more charges in Australia
Victims in Queensland band together
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CAIRNS, Australia - The fugitive former accountant from Canada, Fred Siebolt Hofman, has been extradited in Australia to Cairns, Queensland, to be charged with one count of “engaging in dishonest conduct in relation to the provision of a financial service.” Hofman who worked under the assumed name of Piet Cornelius Walters, in recent months lived in an opulent Tasmania mansion while many of a large group of Queensland investors saw their lives disintegrate due to financial losses. The group is banding together to see justice done.
Dutch Canadian fugitive former accountant Hofman jailed in Australia
Australian court-appointed receiver also looking for millions
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Former accountant and investment advisor Fred S. Hofman who - owing tens of millions of dollars - disappeared from Canada without a trace twelve years ago, recently was jailed in Australia after a court-appointed Queensland receiver followed the paper trail of a $3 million transaction to Vancouver. Hofman, in Australia known as Pieter Cornelius Walters, allegedly invested funds with a junior brokerage firm in Vancouver with ties to his eldest son. When comparing notes the Australians and their Vancouver contacts pulled up the RCMP ‘Most Wanted’ website to look at Hofman’s picture which was the same as that of Walters. Hofman eventually was charged with over 30 counts each of fraud and theft, covering a total of about $10 million.