By Bahle Gama
The crown has successfully opposed the bail application by Inkhosikati LaFogiyane impersonator Thobile Princess Motsa.
On Monday, High Court Judge John Magagula issued a judgement wherein he denied Motsa bail in absentia. Motsa stands charged with three counts of fraud which she allegedly committed on different dates and at different places.
Investigations show that Motsa began her escapades earlier this year by sending WhatsApp messages to Home Affairs Under Secretary (US) Nompumelelo Dlamini where she introduced herself as Inkhosikati LaFogiyane’s maid stating that she wanted to speak to the US who ignored the message at the time.
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The following day Dlamini received a call from a private number and the caller pretended to be Inkhosikati and asked that she assist her cousin and Motsa’s husband Sikhumbuzo Sukati to get a government house around Mbabane.
The US informed the caller she was not responsible for such, and that the relevant office would be that of the PS under the Ministry of Public Service and the caller requested that the matter be referred to the PS Sipho Tsabedze.
On February 14, 2024, the suspect sent another message to the US stating that Inkhosikati wanted to talk to her having introduced herself at Tamati and she responded that she was away.
Motsa was persistent in that when the US returned, she called to follow up on the house situation where she allegedly pretended to be Inkhosikati and requested that her relative be hired at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the PS at Public Service had informed her the Ministry would be responsible.
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The US escalated the matter to her PS Nhlanhla Nxumalo and requested that the matter be addressed having been deceived by the caller masquerading as Inkhosikati.
According to the investigating officer, the suspect would time and again request updates on the requests made.
The PS at the Ministry of Home Affairs also fell for this trap and instructed the US to prepare a recommendation to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for the recruitment of the suspect.
The CSC followed due process of recruitment as per the request and a letter of appointment was issued.
Sometime around March, the US also received another call from the supposed Tamati and informed her that Inkhosikati wanted her relatives to be assisted with getting international passports and travel documents.
“She said the trips would be funded by Inkhosikati and they overlooked the requirement of a bank statement. Acting on that misrepresentation,
the US also gave instructions to her subordinates to issue the passport and travel documents to the suspect without following the procedures,” submitted the officer.
The Public Service PS confirmed that he got information from Home Affairs US regarding the assistance of the bogus Inkhosikati and facilitated the process of the swapping of government houses of the suspect’s husband through the housing section under the ministry, as well as facilitating the employment at CSC.
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The officer said the suspect’s deceit did this to the public officials and there is sufficient evidence against her to be convicted during trial.
Motsa’s bail application was opposed by the crown on the basis that she is a flight risk as far as her relatives in South Africa are concerned, whom she can easily relocate to.
The crown maintained that she could be tempted to evade trial in light of the seriousness of the offence and the charges she faces.
It also contended that Motsa is likely to interfere with crown witnesses once she is released on bail.
Her attorney also contended that even if Motsa were to escape to South Africa, Eswatini has an extradition treaty with the neighbouring country, therefore she could be deported back to the country.
Judge Magagula said it did not seem likely that Motsa would interfere with crown witnesses.
These he said would probably be the government officials she allegedly defrauded, stating that she would not even have the guts to approach them in his view.
“Most likely, they are angry at her. However, when it comes to evading a trial, I consider the prospects of success and the likelihood of a conviction of the accused.
It seems to me that there is a very high likelihood that the applicant (Motsa) will be convicted as she perpetrated the fraud upon individuals who are likely to testify at the trial,” said the Judge.
He further stated that this coupled with the number of counts and seriousness of the offence, there is a possibility that the harsh sentence may tempt Motsa to evade trial.
The judge further noted that none of the sentences are likely to run concurrently as the offences were committed on different occasions.
“For the foregoing reasons, bail is refused,” ordered the judge.
