MBOMBELA - Sibusiso Tshabalala (41) and Ntombizodwa Tshabalala (32) were released on R5 000 bail each after their brief appearance in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court today for alleged fraud and money laundering.

According to a statement by Cpt Lucy Sekgotodi of the Hawks, the pair had been arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in connection with four counts of fraud that includes forgery and uttering, as well as money laundering.

The accused own Bundu Lodge in partnership with a third party, and had allegedly created and submitted fraudulent invoices in September 2018, purportedly owed to them by the lodge. 

The invoices, amounting to over R200 000, were for services that had never been rendered and the money was allegedly paid into their personal accounts without the knowledge of the third partner.

The transactions were discovered during an inspection by the partner, who engaged the Hawks for an investigation that linked the couple to the missing funds. 

The case has been postponed to September 22 for disclosure of the case docket.

Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Subeditor: Wahl Lessing
Submitted by: Capt Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi