Illegal mining kingpin case: Arrest of three women brings total to nine
Alongside the six men believed to be illegal mining kingpins on the West Rand, three women have also now been arrested.
Six men accused of being illegal mining kingpins appeared in court recently alongside three women who have now also been arrested.
• Read initial article here: Illegal mining syndicate sees six kingpins arrested
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said in a statement that the six alleged kingpins, Bethuel Ngobeni (38), Nhlahla Leon Magwaca (26), Thabo Prince Sechele (34), Moseki Sechele (28) Dumisani Moyo (35) and Khudzai Mashaya (45) appeared in the Carletonville Magistrate’s Court on September 7.
Lerato Bathebeng (37), Poppy Mathongwane (35), and Suzan Duba (30) have also been arrested and already appeared in court alongside the six men.
The six initial accused are facing seven counts of dealing in precious metals and three counts of fraud and money laundering while the latest three additions, Bathebeng, Mathongwane, and Duba are each facing a charge of money laundering.”
Allegedly Magwaca, who is Dube’s boyfriend, and Ngobeni, who is a husband to both Bathebeng and Mathongwane, bought movable and immovable assets with the proceeds of crime in their partners’ names. Therefore, the partners unduly benefited from the proceeds of the crime.
The women were granted bail of R2 000 each while Sechele and Maseki told the court, through their legal representative, that they intend to bring a bail application on new facts.
The bail matter was postponed to September 29 while the bigger case of the nine accused was postponed to November 30 for the defense to get an indictment and high court date.
