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MBABANE - The First National Bank (FNB) Loans Department’s supervisor who was arrested for allegedly defrauding the bank close to E400 000 says she never set out to defraud her employer.

-oyce 1tombi 'ube of Hluti under &hief 6alebona, who is based in Mbabane, is alleged to have committed the offences from 2011 to 2022.

“I am advised that the vouchers that I authorised were not due for payment and as such the bank made a loss of the aforementioned monies. I submit that I never set out to defraud the bank, nor did I benefit in any way from the fraudulent transactions that were being conducted by my employees,´ contended 'ube. The exact amount she is alleged to have defrauded her employer is (3 3. . 6he has been slapped with two charges of fraud and in the charge sheet that was presented in court, the names of the people she allegedly used as conduit to defraud the bank have been stated.

Appearance

'ube was arrested by police officers under the Hhohho )raud and &ommercial &rimes 8nit on Tuesday and she made her maiden court appearance at the Mbabane Magistrates &ourt on )riday. In the first count, it is alleged that during the period of March 2022 to 2ctober 2022 in Mbabane, the accused, being a supervisor at the )1% /oans 'epartment and in charge of scheme payments and bank reconciliations, with intent to defraud, she allegedly misrepresented to =odwa 1kambule that certain vouchers prepaid and approved by her 'ube were rightfully due for authorisation. The vouchers in Tuestion, according to the charge sheet, were of Machawe *. Hleta/%ongani Hlatshwako¶s $ccount 1R It is alleged that she fraudulently authorised vouchers, amounting to ( 000 and the money was subseTuently