PASTOR, ABSA LOVER IN E5M FRAUD SCANDAL

The homestead where Johnbo Investments currently operates from at Mlindazwe in Ezulwini.

MBABANE – A liSwati pastor and his girlfriend, who is employed by ABSA Bank, have been implicated in a fraud scandal of E5 million against Old Mutual Preservation Fund in South Africa.

The ABSA Bank employee, Innocentia Lebogang Mashingo, has since been suspended from work on suspicion of being involved in the fraud.
She was suspended pursuant to a probe which was instituted within the ABSA Bank. Mashigo was based at the Piet Retief branch of ABSA Bank.
It was established through the investigation that Mashigo was in a love relationship with one of the recipients of the money, who is the pastor.

She is alleged to have transferred substantial amounts into the bank accounts of her pastor lover, Johnson Monday Mndzebele of Mlindazwe area, Ezulwini.
Mashigo is alleged to have also transferred various sums of money into another liSwati, Sibusiso Sandile Nkambule’s bank account who resides in the Republic of South Africa.

Whereabouts

Investigators were able to locate Johnson, while Nkambule’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the South African Police Service will be requested to look for him.
According to the Operational Head of the Asset and Forfeiture Unit, Elsie Matsebula, various transfers from the ABSA account were made to different people who are not beneficiaries under the fund.

The offence was detected in April 2018 by ABSA Bank.
The two emaSwati, Johnson and Nkambule, are alleged to have received a total sum of E1.7 million.
Johnson, according to Matsebula, received a sum of E800 000 while E900 000 was received by Nkambule in April this year.

The money was allegedly deposited into their respective First National Bank of Swaziland accounts, being account No. 62757062022 in respect of Johnson and Nkambule’s account No. 62709669652.

Johnson is a co-Director of Johnbo Investments (Pty) Ltd together with one Bongani Mndzebele. The company is based in Ezulwini.

Matsebula submitted that investigations sourced from First National Bank on August 2, 2018, allegedly revealed that on April 11, 2018, a transfer of E400 000 was made from Nkambule’s bank account to that of Johnbo Investments’ First National Bank account.

A further sum of E300 000 was allegedly transferred from Nkambule’s account at First National Bank to the same company on April 13, 2018, making the total transfer to the company E700 000.

The investigation also allegedly revealed that as at July 31, 2018, there was a balance of E402 653.26 in the bank account of Johnbo Investments (Pty) Ltd.
The director of public Prosecutions has filed an application in the High Court for a preservation order.

The order will ensure that the amount of E402 653.26, which is the balance left in the company’s account, is preserved pending the outcome of an application for a forfeiture order in terms of Section 50 (1) of the Prevention  of Organised Crime Act (POCA) of 2018.
The State is represented by Crown Counsel Thulani Mamba in the matter.

The DPP seeks to prohibit any person with knowledge of the order from dealing in any manner with the amount of E402 653.26 held under account No. 62354165469 at First National Bank, Swaziland.

A person who has an interest in respect of the money which is subject to forfeiture, in terms of the POCA, should give notice of their intention to have their interests excluded from the forfeiture.

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