Bail denied for ‘Gagash’ and wife in estate fraud case
Polokwane Magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi has denied bail to Peter 'Gagash' Nonyane and his wife Charlotte Tibane in a R4m estate fraud case.
POLOKWANE – Polokwane Magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi has denied bail to Tshwane Metro Police officer Peter “Gagash” Nonyane and his wife, estate attorney Charlotte Tibane.
The couple has been in custody since their arrest in mid-August and faces 43 charges including fraud, theft and money laundering after different families opened cases.
The charges relate to more than R4 million allegedly stolen from six deceased estate accounts that were under Tibane’s stewardship as an estate attorney, State Prosecutor Advocate Martin Molokwane told the court.
Couple knows witnesses, state argues
The matter was back in court on Thursday, September 3, where cross-examination of investigating officer Constable Khutsiso Thobejane continued after two weeks of proceedings.
Thobejane said he opposes bail because the couple knows the witnesses and could interfere with investigations.
State accuses Nonyane of dishonesty
Molokwane accused Nonyane of dishonesty in his first bail affidavit for failing to disclose his full income. He said Nonyane initially failed to declare that he earns extra income as an events MC and as a partner at a Pretoria nightclub.
In a supplementary affidavit read by their lawyer, Advocate Hlawu Maluleke, Nonyane said he uses money from the establishment and bookings to pay his expenses, including his Mercedes-Benz V300 financed through Toyota Finance.
“I utilise the money that I earn from the establishment and any bookings I receive as an MC… On average an approximate amount of R80,000 is paid into my account on a weekly basis,” Nonyane said in the affidavit.
Tibane: ‘My law firm will collapse’
Tibane said she needs bail to prevent the collapse of her law firm and because she is a mother.
Hawks investigator Colonel Daniel Makuwa previously told the court that one estate has been almost wiped out with only R5 000 left, and that funds were allegedly moved for personal benefit, including:
- The purchase of a pre-owned Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 valued at about R1.65 million
- Other luxury vehicles
- Properties
- Transfers into a stokvel account belonging to Nonyane
The state said Tibane did not have authority to transfer funds from estate accounts into her own account or that of her husband.
Defence offered strict conditions
The defence offered that the couple would share their live location with the investigating officer, report daily at a police station and that Nonyane would wear an electronic ankle monitor if released on bail.
