By Thokozani Mazibuko and Ncaba Ntshakala
A GANG that has been targeting elderly citizens and managed to swindle them out of E600 000 has been caught and brought to book to face justice.
The gang of 11 which has been dubbed as the ‘facata’ scammers appeared in court on Thursday. They have been charged with defrauding the public out of E665,691.73.
The ‘facata’ scammers are part of 19 culprits who were arrested by the police for stealing money from unsuspecting members of the public.
Lindelwa Fana Mbingo (19) of Thulwane area, Celumusa Mdumiseni Msibi (27) of Sithobelweni area, Nhlanhla Maseko (21) of Thulwane area, Wakhile Felix Mtsetfwa (19) of Thulwane area, Sandile Wandile Matsenjwa (30) of Kabhudla area, Wakhile Sanele Mamba (19) of Thulwane area,
Sipho Neliswa Mbingo(21) of Thulwane area, Nkosikhona Fisokuhle Maziya (24) of Kabhudla area, Siyabonga Sakhile Ndlovu, Gcina Ndlovu (21) of Kabhudla area, and Bongani Maphalala (22) of Thulwane area all appeared before senior Magistrate Nonhlanhla Dlamini at the Manzini Magistrates Court on Thursday.
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They are facing 26 counts in total which comprise theft by false presentence, the contravention of the Money Laundering Act and Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011 as well as the contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 2018.
In August 2024, in the Ecinisweni area of the Shiselweni region, the accused were charged with theft by false pretences.
They falsely claimed to help George Mqoshwa Ndlangamandla remove hacking viruses from his cell phone and bank account, convincing him to give them his Internet banking credentials.
Through this deception, they stole E152,325 from him.
In one of the charges of contravening the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, they are said to have contravened Section 4 (1) (e) as read with Section 76 and 89 (1) (a) of the Act.
The accused are alleged to have committed an offence between October 21 and 22, 2024, at an unknown location.
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The charge sheet states they unlawfully used money believed to be obtained through Illegal activities, violating the relevant Act.
This includes a breach of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act, specifically Sections 5(1)(c) and 5(2)(a)(b)(c) from 2018. The offence reportedly occurred on October 21, 2024, in the Matsamo area of the Hhohhe Region.
The charge sheet states that the said accused persons acting individually and jointly in furtherance of a common purpose being members of a criminal gang did criminal activities by obtaining and stealing a sum of E42 000 for the benefit of their criminal gang.
The suspects were all remanded in custody until October 30, 2024, pending their committal at the High Court.
