SECUNDA – A bank teller from Secunda accused of stealing about R500 000 from her employer was denied bail on Thursday, 27 June.
Ms Phindile Shabangu (42) brought a formal bail application in the Secunda Magistrate’s Court after she was arrested in Komatipoort on 20 June.
The police located her at the home affairs offices in Komatipoort with her fiance and their five-month-old baby.
They suspect Ms Shabangu tried to flee the country after finding out the bank was investigating the theft of a large sum of money.
According to an internal investigator for the bank who testified at the bail application hearing, three business clients queried the disappearance of money from their accounts.
The clients deposited money, but it never reflected on their accounts and the cash disappeared.
The money began disappearing in May when Ms Shabangu returned to work from maternity leave – in small amounts at first, but eventually about R80 000 disappeared.
The bank questioned Ms Shabangu on 18 June. According to the investigator, about R400 000 disappeared that same day and Ms Shabangu absconded from work the next day.
He also told the Court that Ms Shabangu in this time paid R78 000 cash for a Mazda 2. The bank opened a case at the police on 19 June.
Police detectives soon traced Ms Shabangu to Komatipoort where she was found at midday inside the offices of home affairs.
They brought Ms Shabangu back to Secunda and she has since been in police custody.
The investigating officer said in court Ms Shabangu moved into a new residence less than a month ago and although she does not yet have a passport, he considers her a flight risk. He said she refused to tell where she hid the stolen money.
Ms Shabangu said on Thursday via a document read by her legal representative that she went to Komatipoort to visit her parents and to show them the new baby.
She admitted to applying for a passport, but promised to surrender it to the police when it becomes available.
She offered to clock in at the Secunda Police station twice daily if granted bail.
Soon after claiming that she had not yet been suspended from her work, a bank official arrived with a letter of suspension informing Ms Shabangu about their intention to dismiss her.
Magistrate Faith Kekana said in her verdict that she perceived Ms Shabangu as a deceitful person and a flight risk.
The case was postponed to 30 July.
Also read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/140706/bank-employee-appear-secunda-court-today-fraud/
