(Photo: Absa Group)
The number of people linked to the theft of R103 million from Absa has now risen to 29 after 50-year-old twin sisters were also arrested.
Esme and Joy Magobiyana (50) appear again on Thursday in the specialized commercial crime court in Palm Ridge, Johannesburg, for a formal bail application. The sisters appeared in court for the first time on Monday on charges of theft, fraud and money laundering.
The twin sisters were apprehended by the Hawks’ tactical operational management department on April 17 and 19 respectively in Cape Town and Soweto.
According to Sgt. Thatohatsi Mavimbela, Falcons spokesperson, the latest suspects are positively connected to the case through bank transactions where they allegedly benefited from the stolen millions.
Mavimbela confirmed that 29 suspects have now been arrested in connection with the theft.
Xolela Masebeni, a specialist engineer at Absa, allegedly stole more than R103 million from his employer between September and December 2021 and transferred it to six different accounts. Masebeni was released on bail of R50 000 in February 2022 and was shot dead a few weeks later outside his home in the Eastern Cape.
Numerous other suspects have since been arrested, including a traditional healer, relatives of Masebeni, as well as his former girlfriend, and former employees of the Eastern Cape Education Department.
The police were apparently able to recover R66 million of the stolen money.