The Mbibane Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga has sentenced a 38-year-old undocumented Mozambican national to two years in jail for fraudulent activities. 

The convict, Reginaldo Alberto Nuvunga, was arrested alongside his countryman Kenneth Maoto in January 2021.

“Investigation revealed that the two used cloned bank cards to purchase diesel and refilled their browser,” said Mpumalanga spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi.

The Hawks Middleburg’s serious commercial crime investigation unit acted on information received from an investigation team from a commercial bank regarding the fraud which took place around eMalahleni.

Investigations led the Hawks team to the two Mozambican suspects. 

Following their arrest, Maoto was released on bail, and Nuvunga was remanded in custody until he was sentenced this week.

“Nuvunga was sentenced to two years imprisonment, of which one year is suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence. The court further ruled that after serving his time in prison, Nuvunga must be deported to his country of origin,” said Nkosi.

The browser was also seized by the Hawks.

“A warrant of arrest has since been issued against Maoto. Anyone who might have information about Maoto’s whereabouts may please contact the investigating officer, Captain Jacobus Lombard on 082 521 3225. All received information will be treated as confidential, and callers may opt to remain anonymous,” said Nkosi.

Meanwhile, Mpumalanga acting provincial head of the Hawks, Brigadier Danie Hall, requested the general public and companies to be extra cautious when using their bank cards, warning that card cloning can cause significant financial losses. 

A month ago, IOL reported that a 62-year-old man who had absconded from court after getting bail in 2019 has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment by the Skukuza Regional Court in Mpumalanga for killing two rhinos. 

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, on February 17, 2019, Philip Mfana Masuku from Bhekiswayo Trust in Kabokweni, Mpumalanga, was apprehended after field rangers detected the movement of three suspects near the Pretoriuskop Section of the Kruger National Park.

She said the rangers responded with the aid of sniffer dogs, and Masuku was apprehended; however, his accomplices managed to escape and were never found.

“A search of the crime scene led to the discovery of two knives and a bag containing fresh rhino horns,” Nyuswa added. 

She said that after Masuku was arrested, he got bail but later absconded. “A warrant of arrest was issued, and he was re-arrested in 2023,” said Nyuswa. 

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

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