A former employee of Standard Bank in Harrismith will know her fate when reappearing in the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court for sentencing on 5 May. Thandeka Mlangeni (34) is awaiting sentencing following conviction for fraud worth over R1 million while her co-accused is already serving long term imprisonment.
The state initially scheduled the sentencing for 28 November. The accused was found guilty of fraud and money laundering charges in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca) as well as contravention of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (Ecta).
She has been appearing in court since 2020 following her arrest, together with her boyfriend Hopewell Mpanduli Daguma (34) who is already serving a ten-year sentence after conviction in 2021 for his role in defrauding a client of R1 million.
Mlangeni is currently out on bail of R10 000.
Investigations by the bank’s forensic and the Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation units revealed that the incident happened between January and February 2020. Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Mlangeni opened a fraudulent bank card and transferred R1 million into Daguma’s fraudulent account and further withdrew R500 000 from the victim’s account.
Daguma had his bail revoked and was re-arrested after failing to comply with the conditions set. Once released on bail, he sold the car he had purchased with a portion of the stolen money for R125 000.
Daguma was remanded in custody until his sentencing in April 2021.
Meanwhile, seven suspects in Bloemfontein will stand trial in the Free State High Court on 21 March for allegedly defrauding the same bank of more than R26 million. They are Gerald Hleza (32), Boleba Lesale (35), Thoriso Mosikili (35), Kelebogile Thlathlosi (27), Brian Odora (36), Monienemang Odora (37) and Ellen Muhlalo (46).
The money in question was swindled from the accounts of three victims, investigations revealed. The suspects were arrested by the Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation unit between December 2021 and October last year. The fraud was committed during November and December in 2021.
