The Gqeberha Regional Court has handed down a five-year prison sentence to Lusanda Gloria Qose, a former sales and service consultant at First National Bank (FNB), for her involvement in a sophisticated fraud scheme that exploited a vulnerable senior citizen’s banking profile.

The court’s ruling comes in the aftermath of Qose’s conviction for fraud, cyber fraud, and the unlawful use of access credentials, a crime which threatened the integrity of the financial sector and allowed her to siphon off a staggering R245,000 over a period of three months.

Qose, 35, abused her position at the Pier 14 branch, unlawfully accessing internal bank systems between January 22 and April 24, 2024.

With her employee credentials, she manipulated account details belonging to 68-year-old complainant Mlungwana Maranti, changing his registered cellphone number to divert his One-Time-Pin (OTP) authorisations to herself without his knowledge.

She was able to create a second bank card linked to Maranti’s accounts, subsequently executing unauthorised fund transfers from his Money Maximiser account to his Encore account and conducting multiple ATM withdrawals.

Despite the considerable losses borne by Maranti, the bank ultimately refunded him, absorbing the financial damage incurred due to Qose’s fraudulent operations.

The perpetrator managed to bypass rigorous internal security protocols, including two-factor authentication and online fingerprint verification, exacerbating the breach of trust.

The court noted that Qose’s actions were premeditated and methodical, marking a significant violation of the trust placed in banking professionals.

During the sentencing, Qose, who is a single mother of two minor children aged 13 and 17, expressed remorse for her actions and cited financial distress as her motive for committing the crime.

She testified in mitigation alongside her aunt, revealing that she has already repaid R87,000 through deductions from her pension fund, showing an attempt to rectify her wrongdoing.

In a poignant victim impact statement, Maranti described the severe emotional toll the fraud had on him, disclosing the trauma of witnessing his hard-earned retirement savings evaporate before his eyes.

He candidly shared that the stress led him to contemplate suicide, underscoring the profound psychological harm inflicted by Qose’s actions.

Prosecutor Edmyrach Matabata from the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit argued convincingly that Qose’s significant breach of trust, especially against a vulnerable senior citizen, warranted a custodial sentence. The court acknowledged her remorse and potential for rehabilitation but stressed that her actions not only adversely affected Maranti but also diminished public confidence in the financial institution she represented.

Following the court’s ruling, Advocate Barry Madolo, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, welcomed the decision.

He stated, “This sentence underscores the NPA’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the financial sector and the rights of vulnerable victims. Insider fraud is a growing threat, and we will continue to prioritise the prosecution of those who abuse their positions of trust to commit financial crimes. The National Prosecuting Authority remains steadfast in its efforts to ensure accountability for those who exploit access to sensitive information and to deliver justice for victims of complex financial and cybercrime.”

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