More pension scammers arrested in the ECape

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Two more Ugandan nationals have been arrested and appeared in court in connection with a scam whereby people are defrauded of large sums of money, usually pension payouts, with promises that their “ancestors” will multiply the money, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) in the Eastern Cape said on Sunday.

Jerald Mukasa, 44, and Suudi Nsubuga, 34, appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of fraud. They are accused of defrauding a 46-year-old Idutywa teacher out of just over R800,000 of her pension money during June, Captain Anelisa Feni said.

The two Ugandan nationals were arrested in East London on Thursday by the Hawks serious commercial crime unit and the vehicle crime investigation (VIS) unit. Mukasa was allegedly known as “Davis Ndawule” while Nsubuga was apparently known as “Mike” to the former teacher.

When the members searched the residence of one of the suspects in Gonubie, East London, they discovered confidential documents and a “consultation room”. The two were expected to appear before the same court on September 27 for a formal bail application, Feni said.

They were the second and third Ugandan nationals arrested during September by the serious commercial crime unit and VIS unit in connection with this scam. Ugandan national Joshua Setimba Kyebakolo, 34, was arrested on September 6 for allegedly defrauding a former Queenstown teacher out of just over R1.1 million of her pension money in 2014. He was still in custody and would again appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

“The modus operandi of this scam allegedly sees traditional healers convince the victim to resign from work in order for the ancestors of the victim to multiply their money.”

Among others, Nalwanga Haawa, 36, another Ugandan national, was arrested on May 13 for allegedly defrauding a 60-year-old former administration clerk from Sterkstroom out of about R600,000 of his pension money in 2014.

Haawa’s next appearance in the Queenstown Magistrate’s Court would be September 30.

She remains in custody, Feni said.
– African News Agency (ANA)