WeeklySA_AdminSPLURGE:Cops seized speed point, 16 bank cards and luxury clothes at home of conman who stole R2,4 million…
By Thuli Zungu
A Cape Town conman who cloned bank cards and stole R2,4 million together with two women accomplices, was sentenced in the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court this week to an effective seven years’ imprisonment.
Fraudster Allain Wandjo Mukamba was convicted on a count of conspiracy to commit fraud, three counts of fraud, contravention of the Electronic Communication and Transactions Act and a count of money laundering.
Eric Ntabazalila, National Prosecuting Authority regional communications manager, says Mukamba swiped cloned cards during a spree of fraudulent activities, earning R2,4 million.
Ntabazalila says during the trial, the prosecutor Advocate Esmeralda Johnson, told the court that Mukamba recruited Sisanda Mavangwe who, in turn, recruited Nomaphelo Mabayi.
Mukamba asked the two women to register private companies and then guided them to open bank accounts, he says. They opened bank accounts with Capitec, Standard Bank, Nedbank and ABSA, providing fake personal details, including residential addresses and contact numbers. He then ordered them to order Point of Sales devices (speed points) from the banks, says Ntabazalila Both women also lied when opening business accounts with Mavangwe, claiming to be a director of Pafos Restaurant and Bar, while Mabayi claimed to be a director of Noma Meat and Fish Wholesale.
When the devices were delivered to the two women, Mukamba took them.
On 25 September 2014, a transaction of R4 750 was processed through a speed point in favour of Pafos Restaurant and Bar from an ABSA bank card, he says
But the card owner, Samantha Volschenk disputed the transaction, and, on October 15 2014, another transaction of R4 770 in favour of Pafos Restaurant and Bar was processed, says Ntabazalila.
This transaction was also disputed by the card owner, Stephen Caradoc-Davies.
On 30 October 30 2014, police applied for and obtained a search and seizure warrant for Mukamba’s residence and seized a Standard Bank speed point, 30 speed point slips for Pafos Restaurant and Bar, a menu for the restaurant, 16 banks cards, company registration documents for Mavangwe Sisanda Trading (PTY) Ltd, a share certificate in Mavangwe’s name, company registration documents for Nomaphelo Mabayi (PTY) Ltd Page 2 of 2 T/A Nom Meat and Fish Wholesale, a laptop, cellphones and brand new clothing items from a high end child boutique still with price tags.
Mavangwe and Mabayi entered into a plea and sentencing agreement in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Part of the agreement was that they testified against Mukamba.
The NPA welcomes the sentence as it strives to reduce the scourge of white-collar crimes, Ntabazalila says
