One of the three accused linked to a Capitec bank fraud case and arrested on 14 June 2021, was slapped with a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to fraud charges. The convicted culprit Lindiwe Sibongile Ntshingila (33) was sentenced by the Bethlehem Regional Court on 25 October.
Her sentencing is a result of probing by the Bethlehem-based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, which presented compelling evidence in court.
Ntshingila’s co-accused, Simphiwe Makhathini (42) and Buhlebuyeza Mabaso (34), are still on trial. Their matter was remanded to 21 November in the Harrismith Regional Court.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks, said the court sentenced Ntshingila to six years’ direct imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years with condition after pleading guilty to fraud charges.
“The condition is that she is not convicted of a similar offence during the period of suspension,” said Singo. He said the bank was defrauded of a loan worth R134 937.10 through a fraudulent bank account and employment documentation during January 2018.
Singo said Ntshingila colluded with Makhathini and Mabaso to defraud the bank.
“Ntshingila, with her co-accused, approached a Capitec bank to apply for a new account and a personal loan, which the bank approved. A preliminary investigation by the bank uncovered that the payslip and Standard Bank account statement submitted were fraudulent. Further investigation revealed that the employment of the accused, which was confirmed by Mabaso, was also fraudulent,” said Singo.
