Moneylenders fraud: 6 more counts for cop
MBABANE – The female police officer, who was reportedly the brains behind the fraudulent activities on credit providers, is now facing 12 charges.
Khulekile Winfred Dlamini was initially slapped with six charges of fraud, wherein it is alleged that she, on diverse occasions, defrauded Letshego Financial Services about E300 000.
However, an amended charge sheet, which has been filed by the prosecution, reflects that more credit providers were allegedly defrauded by the accused and the money involved is E906 187.92.
The other credit providers, who purportedly also fell victims of the alleged fraudulent activities by the police officer, are Getbucks (PTY) Limited, Select Management, First Finance and Swaziland Debt Factoring Firm. It is alleged that Khulekile would collect personal details of her colleagues, and then make an application for a loan using the particulars in her possession.
Colleague
She would allegedly make the application in the name of the colleague and further provide an account which would bear the name of the ‘loan applicant’. The accused is currently languishing in custody and is awaiting the outcome of his bail application, which is being opposed by the prosecution.
In her opposing affidavit, the investigator of the matter, Inspector Minah Vilane, informed the court that the matter had drawn a lot of attention, interest from the public and members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), who were also complainants. According
COUNTS FACED BY THE ACCUSED
Count 1: Allegedly defrauded Select Limited Mbabane a sum of E150 000.
Count 2: Allegedly defrauded Select Limited Mbabane a sum of E20 000.
Count 3: Allegedly defrauded Select Limited Mbabane E20 000.
Count 4: Allegedly defrauded First Finance Company Mbabane a sum of E190 000.
Count 5: Allegedly defraud United Pay Limited Mbabane E50 000 using salary advice slip and national identity card of Nontsikelelo Dlamini.
Count 6: Allegedly defrauded Getbucks (PTY) Limited Mbabane that she was Phindeka Nontsikelelo Dlamini and was entitled to make a loan application of E20 000 using salary advice slip and national identity card all of Nontsikelelo Dlamini.
Count 7: The accused is charge with the crime of theft by false pretences
to the investigator, most of the people who had their documents used by Khulekile to fraudulently apply for the loans were her colleagues and they were livid, hence it would not be in the interest of justice to release her on bail.
“At one stage applicant (Khulekile) was assaulted by one of the victims and she was also assaulted by a member of the public for such transaction of fraud. Applicant is also leaving under threats and she is not safe. Therefore, her release on bail will jeorpardise the proper function of the criminal justice system including the bail system,” argued Inspector Vilane. It was further her averments that if the applicant was released on bail, the victims or complainants might resort to taking the law into their own hands.
“I further submit that applicant has in that she misrepresented to Takisti Masuku Brach Manager at Swaziland Debt Factoring Firm that she was sent by Phesheya Army Dlamini to make a loan application of E65 992.09.
Count 8: Allegedly defrauded Swaziland Debt Factoring Firm Ezulwini in E65 992.09.
Count 9: Allegedly defrauded Getbucks (PTY) Limited E20 000 using National Identity card and salary advice slip of Lungile Nxumalo.
Count 10: Allegedly defrauded Getbucks (PTY) E10 000 using National Identity card and salary advice slip of Phesheya Army Dlamini.
Count 11: Allegedly defrauded First Finance Company Mbabane in the Hhohho Region a sum of E74 861.59.
Count 12: Allegedly provided false documentation to induce Swaziland Debt Factoring Firm to grant her a loan.
propensity of committing similar offence while out on bail and one of the implied bail conditions is that an accused should not commit similar offences while out on bail, but the applicant failed to comply. She committed the offences she is facing while out on bail,” argued the investigator.
The investigator told the court that she was, however, unable to attach the bail conditions of the applicant since when she went to the Mbabane Magistrates’ Court to look for the record she found it missing. “This is a clear indication that the applicant is capable of manipulating people to do illegal things on her behalf,” averred the investigator.
She further brought it to the attention of the court that the applicant had exhibited signs that she would not stand trial. Inspector Vilane highlighted that, after realising that she was being investigated for these offences, she allegedly attempted to flee the court’s jurisdiction to the Republic of South Africa through Mananga Border Gate.
“I managed to arrest her at the border while exiting this jurisdiction; this was in May 9, 2023. Since I had flagged her passport, had it not been for this intervention, the applicant would have left without being detected,” contended Inspector Vilane.
Bail
She submitted that it would not be in the interest of justice to release the applicant on bail. The investigator went on to submit that there was a possibility that the applicant would be convicted. She said if the applicant was released on bail, she would attempt to evade trial because of the nature and gravity of the offences.
“May I state that the applicant has already displayed signs of dishonesty by failure to disclose such an important factor in her founding affidavit that she had been previously charged for similar offences. Having disclosed the charges that are pending at the Mbabane Magistrates Court, she then fails to take the court into confidence by stating the circumstances and conditions of her release since she realises that she is in breach,” she argued.
Inspector Vilane then implored the court to find this act of dishonesty against the applicant. The bail application is pending before Judge Justice Mazwi Mavuso, who is expected to issue judgment after hearing argument of both parties. The Crown is represented by Fakazi Mngometulu, while appearing for the applicant is Mlindzi Mthethwa of Ben J Simelane and Associates in Manzini.