MBOMBELA – A 55-year-old retired magistrate was arrested by the Hawks in connection with fraud, corruption, forgery and uttering.
Ms Magrieta Stoffelina Maria Botha appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on May 25.
Her arrest comes after the Hawks discovered she allegedly created false garnishee orders purporting to be from various
magistrate’s courts including Nelspruit, Barberton, Malelane, KaBokweni and Tonga.
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She allegedly forged the stamps of the above-mentioned offices.
It is alleged that Botha would forge the signatures of the victims on the garnishee order forms and submit them to their employers who would deduct money and pay the amount into the suspect’s trust account.
She was released with a warning, on the condition that she never make contact with witnesses and must inform the investigating officer before she leaves Mbombela.
Community members who have been affected by the unknown deductions are urged to report such to the Hawks in Mbombela or contact the investigating officer, WO Mphephethe on 071-481-3295.
The case has been postponed to 23 August for further investigation