Mastermind behind theft of deceased’s R36m arrested in Polokwane
The foreign national businessman handed himself over to the police on Tuesday (September 13), accompanied by his legal representative.
POLOKWANE – A 47-year-old man, believed to be the mastermind behind the theft of a deceased bank client’s R36m, was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Polokwane on Tuesday (September 13).
The provincial Hawks’ spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke said the foreign national businessman handed himself over to the police and was accompanied by his legal representative.
The first accused, Thabiso Matenda (28), was employed by FNB in Makhado and allegedly opened the profile of a deceased client on April 25 without authorisation and stole R36 989 052.67.
Read more: Former Louis Trichardt bank employee to appear in court for theft of R36m
Maluleke said the deceased, who was also a foreign national businessman based in South Africa, reportedly died in a motor vehicle accident on April 24.
“The stolen money was transferred into new bank accounts that were created,” he said.
A couple were then arrested in Johannesburg on July 17 after they fought over R6m they allegedly received from one of the suspects.
Read more: Couple arrested in connection with theft of deceased bank client’s R36m
“Nomaphelo Sethi (28) and Rody Martial Nzeya (43) appeared in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court and were released on R20 000 bail, each. Matenda was also released on R20 000 bail,” Maluleke said.
The mastermind is expected to appear before the Makhado Magistrate’s Court today (September 14) on charges of fraud and money laundering.
