By Bahle Gama
The teenage (15) facata suspect facing 65 counts has told the court that, he along with other vulnerable children were recruited into the ‘syndicate’.
The teenager was arrested and charged with 65 counts including 13 for Theft by false pretence, 13 for contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 2018, 13 counts of Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, 33 counts of violating the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act of 2022.
He allegedly stole E0.5 million from emaSwati through the facata scam.
He made his maiden court appearance at the Manzini Magistrates Court last week where he was remanded into police custody.
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In his bail application at the High Court, the teenager told the court that one of the suspects, currently out on bail, Sinethemba Tsabedze recruited him indirectly as he would send him to Manzini to withdraw money, an errand he was paid handsomely for.
He (teenager) used the money to help at home and buy clothes for himself.
“Tsabedze borrowed my phone and downloaded a Standard Bank App which he continued to access using my phone.”
“I’m not sure what he did but later that day, he sent me to withdraw some money for him in Manzini. He paid me E5,000 which I gave to my grandmother.
On another occasion without utilising the teenager’s phone, Tsabedze sent him to withdraw money again, which he did, excitedly because he was anticipating that Tsabedze would give him more money.
He gave him E2,000 which he used to purchase some clothes.
“Tsabedze was going around recruiting vulnerable children in the area whom he sent to withdraw different sums of money.
We all wanted to be close to him so that we could gain some money without even bothering to enquire about the source of the funds,” he submitted.
The suspect told the court that he does not know whatsoever of Internet banking, also, he does not have a bank account to enable him to commit such a crime, of conning people.
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He submitted that he is currently enrolled in high school, having completed Form 1 in 2024. As schools are to reopen in a few weeks, his continued incarceration will result in him missing out on education due to his prejudice.
“I am just a child from an impoverished background who was gullible enough to be used in this scam,” he said.
