NELSPRUIT – Bank employees, a traditional healer and others were arrested in connection with the theft of more than R4 million from various Absa ATMs in town.
The seven suspects, Mr Mzamo Thwala (30), Mr Given Mafiyeka (30), Ms Rose Mashego (33), Mr Tshepo Phila (29), Mr Phumlani Lekhuleni (30), Mr Themba Mafiyeka (26) and Mr Evans Thwala (34), all appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of theft.
They were arrested following an investigation by the South African Police Service’s war-room tracking team with the Absa and Barclays Africa Security’s division of serious and violent crime investigation and information.
Police information showed that the mastermind behind the theft was the bank’s custodian who apparently colluded with a cleaner to steal by flouting the prescripts and regulations for loading money into the machines.
“The bank’s management became suspicious when most of the ATMs in Nelspruit’s central business district ran out of money on March 29,” stated the report.
Initial investigation by the bank’s team led to one of its custodians who had apparently started acting suspiciously from March 24 to 29 and didn’t report for duty from the 29th.
“The team discovered that on March 27 and 28, he had accessed machines that he was not supposed to, and that he also changed their access-code combinations. The custodian and the cleaner were also captured on one of the close-circuit television cameras of the ATMs walking out with a packed SBV cash bag,” continued the report.
Police investigation led to the arrest of two of the suspects at Mhluzi Mall in Middelburg on April 8.
A sum of R121 000 was found stashed in their carry bags.
“The suspects were interviewed and they led the police to the five accomplices who were arrested in Pienaar, Masoyi and KaBokweni. These included a bank administrator, close friends, relatives and a traditional healer whom the duo, the custodian and cleaner, paid to give them muti in order to avoid arrest,” according to Col Leonard Hlathi.
He said more than R3 million was recovered during the arrests.
“Police also ascertained that an amount of R800 000 was loaned to a credible businessman and information at police disposal revealed that he (businessman) was not aware that it was stolen,” he continued.
“As part of the investigation, arrangements have been made for him to give the money back to Absa,” he added.
