A former Premier League star has now received a lengthy prison sentence for defrauding his loved ones of more than R300 million.
Richard Rufus, who played for Charlton Athletic between 1998 and 2004, has been handed a sentence of seven and a half years after being found guilty of defrauding family and friends to the tune of £15 million (R309 million)
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The charges against Rufus that led to a guilty verdict are said to be fraud, money laundering and exercising a regulated activity without authorisation.
The ex-England U21 international allegedly told those close to him he was a successful foreign exchange trader and persuade them to invest in a "low-risk" scheme that promised returns of 60% a year.
Prosecutors claimed that Rufus used some of the money acquired from victims to pay back people who invested in a pyramid scheme, while the rest of the money was used to maintain a luxurious lifestyle
"Rufus acted in a selfish manner without any concern for his victims," Roger Makanjuola of the Crown Prosecution Service said, per ESPN.
"He took advantage of his status as a professional athlete, a respected church member and he used the goodwill of his family and friends to scam them and associates out of millions of pounds by falsely claiming he was able to offer a low-risk investment in the Foreign Exchange Market."
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Rufus, who only played for Charlton in his professional career, was forced into retirement in 2004 due to a knee injury.
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