The Hawks have told the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo that a Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) officer and his wife allegedly withdrew almost all the money from the estate accounts of five families.
Hawks investigating officer Colonel Daniel Makuwa gave evidence during the bail proceedings of TMPD officer Peter “Gagash” Nonyane and his wife, lawyer Charlotte Tibana.
The couple is facing a string of charges linked to allegations that they targeted accounts belonging to deceased estates.
Makuwa told the court that the affected families were angry over the alleged withdrawals and warned that the accused could be at risk if they were released on bail.
“Yesterday when my advocate was adding the charges, he did mention that one of the estates has been wiped out, only R5 000 is remaining on that estate,” Makuwa told the court.
The State has now added further charges, bringing the total against Nonyane and Tibana to 35 counts of fraud, money laundering and corruption.
The investigation was launched after the family of the late Lawrence Kove lodged a complaint.
According to the Hawks, the accused allegedly defrauded the deceased estate accounts belonging to the Masha, Mathabatha, Maswanganyi, Moetji and Kove families of more than R4 million.
The bail application is continuing as the State presents its case against the couple.