EL woman accused of defrauding bank

AN EAST London woman allegedly used fake documents to defraud Capitec Bank out of R95 000.

Thembi Mandlana appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court where she was charged with three counts of fraud, forgery and uttering.

State prosecutor Advocate Wayne Jafta told the court the woman had visited Capitec Bank in Hemingways Mall on April 1 2016 to apply for a loan.

It is the state’s case that the unemployed Mandlana allegedly produced personal documents stating that she was gainfully employed by the department of education.

The state claims Mandlana was aware that she was supplying false documents and that she had no intention of repaying or servicing the loan.

The loan was processed and money was paid into her account.

In court, the woman was presented by East London attorney Ben van Rensburg, who argued that she be released on bail.

Jafta was opposed to her being given bail, saying the state did not know where she lived.

He told the court police had previously looked for her without success until she handed herself over last week.

Bail court magistrate Nazeem Joemath deliberated on the bail in the chambers, and later emerged in the court room, took a seat and told Jafta there was no obligation from Mandlana’s side to inform the investigating officer of her whereabouts when the case was provisionally withdrawn.

Joemath set bail at R1 000. Part of Mandlana’s bail condition were that she stays indoors from 9pm to 6am every day and report to her nearest police station at least twice a week.