AlgoaFM News
A 27-year-old woman, who worked as a radiographer without the necessary qualifications, has been found guilty of fraud and forgery by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Gqeberha.
The court found Asisipho Mbekela, who hails from Mthatha, guilty of three counts of fraud and two counts of forgery on Wednesday.
Magistrate Lionel Lindoor said that when Mbekela attended the 2016 Cape Peninsula University of Technology graduation ceremony she was well aware that she didn't qualify to graduate after failing three out of four modules dismally.
Her prominent attorney, Peter Daubermann, argued that it was unthinkable that Mbekela would have risked public humiliation by attending the ceremony with her whole family fully knowing she didn't qualify.
Magistrate Lindoor said that it was prudent to refer to a quote by Mark Twain in this case that " Truth is stranger than fiction. It has to be, Fiction has to be possible and truth doesn't."
He said Mbekela had planned everything and had forged supporting documents that she knew would convince officials at the ceremony that she was on the list of graduates.
Lindoor said Mbekela thought she would be able to get away with it but that a lecturer at the graduation ceremony recognised her and raised the alarm.
When the probe into Mbekela's qualification was instituted, she was doing her community service as a radiographer at Livingstone Hospital.
On hearing the guilty verdict on Wednesday, Mbekela - who had been calm and collected during the entire trial - broke down and started sobbing.
Her attorney, Daubermann asked the court to stand down for a few minutes to allow his client to compose herself.
During the adjournment, an emotional Mbekela loudly exclaimed and swore that she didn't do it.
Daubermann asked Mbekela to calm down and when the court resumed he asked for a postponement to a later date.
The court postponed the matter to the 10th of October for sentencing arguements to be heard.
Mbekela's bail has been extended.
