Nine Arrested For Stealing R36M From A Deceased Businessman
Nine people, including a police officer, have been arrested by the Hawks in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo for stealing more than R36 million from a deceased foreign national businessman.
The First National Bank (FNB) employee, Thabiso Matenda, allegedly opened a profile of the deceased without authorization and stole the money. The stolen funds were transferred to different bank accounts that were created, and the money was spent.
Moses Banda, 48, who is believed to be the mastermind, as well as Johannesburg couple, Nomaphelo Sethi, 28, and Rody Martial Nzeya, 43 were also arrested in connection with the case. The couple was allegedly given R6 million and was later arrested in July when they fought over the money, which was discovered to be stolen.
The Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke, stated that they will arrest all those involved in the case, and the accused will be convicted and given harsh sentences. News24 cites Maluleke as saying:
The first accused person to be arrested in this case was the First National Bank (FNB) employee based in Makhado, Thabiso Matenda, 29.
It is alleged that Matenda opened a profile of a deceased client on 25 April 2022 without any authorisation and stole R36 989 052.67.
The deceased, a foreign national businessman who was based in South Africa, reportedly died in a fatal vehicle accident on 24 April 2022. The stolen money was transferred into the new different bank accounts that were created, and the money was squandered.
Major General Gopz Govender, the provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, has declared that all individuals involved in the case of stealing more than R36 million from a deceased foreign national businessman will be arrested. It is his belief that all the accused will be convicted and given severe sentences.
