The second alleged conman Lebohang Ernest Maboea (28), implicated in the defrauding of several people in Qwaqwa through a get-rich-quick scheme, will stand trial alone in the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court. The case is set to continue on 22 January after he was re-arrested by the Free State’s Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crimes unit on 2 January.
Maboea’s arrest came after months of evading the police. He is the second culprit implicated in defrauding several people in Qwaqwa of large amounts of monies through a bogus scheme called Black Child Billionaire.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Maboe was re-arrested on 2 January. He was on the wanted list following failure to appear in court on numerous occasions regarding the ongoing fraud case. He was out on bail set at R3 000.
“He is remanded in custody,” said Singo. He said Maboea was first arrested on 16 July 2021 and failed to appear in court after he was released on bail on 26 July during the year in question. His co-accused, Neo Patrick Makhokolo (29), was sentenced in August last year.
Singo said the pair operated the bogus scheme in Phuthaditjhaba between 2018 and 2019.
“The victims invested their money with a promise of getting returns ranging from 25% to 100%. The victims did not receive their money as agreed and as a result they lost about R534 000 combined,” said Singo. He said Maboea faces an additional charge of contempt of court, in addition to charges of fraud, money laundering, contravention of the Banks Act, and contravention of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS).
Makhokolo was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment and ordered to repay one of the victims R18 000 in instalments of R1 500. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
