2 CIVIL SERVANTS ARRESTED FOR OVER E600 000 ESTATE FRAUD

MBABANE – A beneficiary was defrauded over E600 000 from her late relative’s estate, allegedly by two civil servants.

Thandeka Qondile Maphalala (33) of Mpolonjeni and Derrick Thabani Sibanyoni (33) of Zondwako, have been charged with two counts.
According to their charge sheet, Maphalala and Sibanyoni are alleged to have defrauded Nosipho Sihlongonyane E682 778.85, which was her inheritance. The two appeared before Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi, where they were remanded in custody until August 24, pending their committal to the High Court. The suspects were represented by Lindelwa Mkhwanazi, who mentioned to the court that he was standing in for Sifiso Jele.

Prosecutor Buddy Masango then stated that as the state, they were making an application for the detention of exhibits which would be used during the trial.
The principal magistrate questioned what kind of exhibits they were and Masango stated that these were two vehicles.

“The exhibits are big, Your Worship, as they are vehicles, so they cannot be brought into the courtroom,” Masango said. Mkhwanazi informed the court that they were opposing the application to detain the vehicles, as they had documents which supported opposing the application made by Masango.

Vehicles

The court then stated that Masango would have to file a full application for the detention of the vehicles.
The principal magistrate informed both learned friends and the suspects that she needed to inspect the cars.

“The suspects are charged with fraud and it does not add up why the vehicles are to be detained. We have paperwork which reflects the date of purchase for the vehicles,” Mkhwanazi said. However, the principal magistrate  informed the Crown that she needed to inspect the said vehicles, if they are in good condition for the intended application by the Crown.

“The inspection can be done first thing in the morning so the suspects will be remanded in custody as they  are to be brought back here first thing in the morning,” the magistrate said.
In the first count, the civil servants are charged with fraud in that upon or about the month of March to July 2018, at or near Mbabane in the  Hhohho District, the said suspects acting jointly and in furtherance of a common purpose, did unlawfully and with intent to defraud, misrepresent to Jabulile Rachel Dlamini.

Jabulile, in the charge sheet it states holds the position of assistant accountant in the Treasury Department of the Kingdom of Eswatini and that the two suspects stated that it was their honest belief that a Standard Bank statement in the name of Nosipho Siphiwo Sihlongonyane, a beneficiary in the estate of the late Patrick Bafana Sihlongonyane was authentic and did by means of the said misrepresentation induce to the actual loss and prejudice to Nosipho in that the amount of E682 778 85 was paid to Nolwazi Nonduduzo Fakudze.

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