The Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation unit, and the National Prosecution Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in the Free State have secured another preservation order against one of the nine suspects linked to the R26 million fraud case of Standard Bank in Bloemfontein. The preservation is part of the elite crime fighting agency’s ongoing crackdown into the fraud saga.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks, said the Free State High Court granted the preservation order yesterday (02/03), following a successful application.
The order to preserve more than R700 000 plus a Mercedes Benz CLA 250 Sport 4Matic is against Thoriso Marvin Mosikili (35). The first order granted in November last year was against Kelebogile Tlhatlosi (27) and Brian Odora (36). It pertains to more than R7 million.
According to Singo, the monies and the vehicle are believed to be the proceeds of the R26 million the suspects allegedly siphoned from the bank. The money was reportedly swindled from the accounts of three clients.
Singo said the Hawks’ investigation and the bank’s forensics revealed that two former employees of the bank, Tlhatlosi and Gotshawanetse Mmoniemang Adora (37), had allegedly accessed the accounts of the three clients. “Several transfers were then made from the three victims’ accounts without their knowledge during November and December 2021,” said Singo.
The other suspects fingered are Ellen Mahlulo (46), Stembiso Gerald Hleza (32), Boleba Albinis Lesale (35), Michael Sayers (53) and Ashley Michael Youngman (35).
The NPA has since confirmed that Youngman is facing charges of theft, money laundering (contravention of Section 5 of the Prevention of the Organised Crime Act), possession of illicit proceeds (contravention of Section 6 of Prevention of the Organised Crime Act), and failure to declare certain transactions to the Financial Intelligence Centre. All nine suspects are expected to appear before the Bloemfontein High Court on 22 March. They are out on bail ranging from R8 000 to R10 000.
