The Hawks, the South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, continue their crackdown on the case regarding the defrauding of Standard Bank in Bloemfontein of more than R26 million, and now has nine suspects linked to the crime.
Some of the suspects are involved in different private businesses.
The latest are Michael Sayers (53) and Ashley Michael Youngman (35). The two men were granted bail of R10 000 each after a brief appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (16/02). The National Prosecuting Authority 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.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Sayers and Youngman had handed themselves over to the elite crime investigation team in Bloemfontein.
“They were accordingly charged,” he said.
The Hawks pounced on the seven other suspects between December 2021 and October 2022. They are: Gerald Hleza (32), Boleba Lesale (35), Thoriso Mosikili (35), Kelebogile Thlathlosi (27), Brian Odora (36), Monienemang Odora (37) and Ellen Muhlalo (46). They are out on bail ranging from R800 to R10 000, having appeared several times in court regarding the alleged bank fraud.
Singo confirmed the accused were set to stand trial in the Free State High Court on 22 March. The case was transferred to the High Court after being heard on 14 December.
It emerged the bank was defrauded during November and December 2021.
Singo said according to findings, the R26 million had been swindled from the accounts of three clients of the bank. He added that the investigations revealed that Tlhatlosi and her colleague, Moniemang Odora, had fraudulently accessed the bank accounts of the clients.
The two women were working for the bank when the fraud was committed.
“Several transfers were made from the three victims’ accounts without their knowledge,” said Singo.
The Hawks’ ongoing investigation has seen more than R7 million secured against Tlhatlosi and Moniemang Odora. The preservation order was granted by the Free State High Court in November last year, and this amount is part of the R26 million reportedly lost by the three victims.
