TWO MORE ACCUSED APPEARED IN COURT FOR FRAUD
FREE STATE – The accused, Michael Sayers (53) and Ashley Michael Youngman (35) appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court today, 16 February 2023 where they are facing charges of fraud. They were granted R10 000 bail each to appear in the Bloemfontein High Court on 22 March 2023 for pre-trial.
The duo handed themselves over to the Hawks’ investigating officer on Thursday, 16 February 2023 and were accordingly charged. It is alleged that during November and December 2021, Kelebogile Tlhatlosi (27) and Gotshawanetse Mmoniemang Adora (37) both former employees of Standard Bank were working together with Sayers, Youngman, Brian Odora (36), Ellen Mahlulo (46), Thokiso Marvin Mosikili (35), Sthembiso Gerald Hleza (32) and Boleba Albinis Lesale (35) when they fraudulently accessed bank account of three clients of Standard Bank.
Several transfers were then made from the three victims’ account without their knowledge. As a result, Standard Bank was prejudiced and suffered a total loss of more than R26 million. The matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Bloemfontein for further investigation.
The other seven accused were arrested between December 2021 and October 2022 and were later granted bail ranging from R500 to R10 000.
