KUGOMPO CITY – A KuGompo City-based attorney is facing fraud charges after allegedly submitting false Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims valued at approximately R5.2 million, with the National Prosecuting Authority confirming it will oppose her bid for bail.

According to NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, Muleya, a Zimbabwean national, briefly appeared in the KuGompo Magistrates’ Court, and the matter was postponed to Friday, 9 October for a formal bail application, which the State intends to oppose.

“The accused, who had allegedly been evading arrest for some time, was apprehended at OR Tambo International Airport on 30 September,” he said. “She initially appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court in Gauteng, where the matter was subsequently transferred to the Eastern Cape for further proceedings.”

Tyali confirmed that Muleya faces a charge of fraud, alternatively theft, arising from claims allegedly submitted to the RAF on behalf of at least 12 beneficiaries.

“At the time of the alleged offences, Muleya was a duly admitted attorney of the High Court, practising under the name Precious Muleya Attorneys,” he said.

“She is alleged to have submitted RAF claims on behalf of road accident victims from various areas, including KuGompo, Centane, Butterworth, KwaBhaca, Mdantsane, and Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal.”

He added that investigations conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) revealed that between 29 August 2019 and 19 February 2021, the RAF allegedly paid amounts ranging from R150 000 to R947 000 based on false information submitted to inflate the value of claims.

“The investigation further established that several claimants were allegedly neither assessed nor treated by the medical and professional practitioners whose invoices and medico-legal reports were submitted in support of the claims,” he said.

Additionally, he stated that these reports and invoices are alleged to have been forged and used to induce the RAF to make payments to which the claimants were not entitled.

“The NPA remains committed to combating fraud and corruption, protecting public resources, and ensuring that those responsible for commercial crimes are held accountable through the criminal justice system,” Tyali concluded.

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