By Mulalo Luvhimbi
The Polokwane Magistrate’s Court has postponed until October 8 its decision on bail for two accused in an expanding fraud and money-laundering case involving an alleged R11 million taken from deceased estates.
Rirhandu Tibana and businessman Jabulani Maluleke are among the accused in the case involving suspended attorney Charlotte Tibana and her husband, Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department officer Peter “Gagash” Nonyane.
Limpopo Hawks investigator Constable Phuthisho Thobejane asked the court to set bail at R100,000 each for Tibana and Maluleke.
The case began in August following the arrests of Charlotte Tibana and Nonyane over allegations that money had been unlawfully withdrawn from deceased-estate accounts.
What initially involved allegations concerning about R1.75 million and two estates has since widened considerably as additional complainants have come forward.
The State now alleges that about R11 million was misappropriated from 15 deceased estates.
Rirhandu Tibana, who is Charlotte Tibana’s sister, and Maluleke were arrested in September and subsequently joined to the case. Maluleke’s company, Risima Jeje Trading Enterprise (Pty) Ltd, has also been cited as an accused.
The State has alleged that Charlotte Tibana, while administering deceased estates, diverted money intended for beneficiaries, with some of the proceeds allegedly transferred through other people and entities.
Earlier court proceedings heard allegations that more than R1 million from one deceased estate had been transferred into an account linked to Maluleke.
Charlotte Tibana and Nonyane were denied bail in September and remain in custody.
The State has continued adding charges as the investigation has expanded. On Friday, further charges were added against the pair, increasing the number of counts against them from 107 to 123.
Charlotte Tibana and Nonyane were excused from the remainder of the proceedings involving the bail applications by their co-accused.
The magistrate ruled that Nonyane would remain in police custody rather than being transferred to prison. The ruling followed an indication from the State that his failure to appear in court earlier in the week was allegedly because he had been held in prison instead of police custody.
The matter involving Charlotte Tibana and Nonyane was postponed to November 6, when they are expected to appear again.
The magistrate said there was significant interest in the investigation and that investigators might need access to the accused for further questioning.
The accused have not been convicted of the charges against them.
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