Violet Mahlatsi, 41, was arrested on the 30 September 2019, after the bank manager reported two complaints of unauthorised withdrawals from two clients’ accounts which were refunded to the complainants by Mahlatsi using her card the same day. She was later released on R5, 000 bail.

Mahlatsi pleaded guilty on 879 charges of fraud, 877 charges of Money laundering and 5 charges of Electronic Communications and Transactions Act on the 19 March 2020. These transactions added up to more than R118,000.

The Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team revealed in court that Mohlatsi had duplicated about 10 unsuspecting clients’ bank cards in order to perform these illegal transactions.

Mahlatsi was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for two counts of fraud of which 3 years is suspended for 5 years. A further 8 years imprisonment other multiple charges of fraud of which 5 years is suspended for 5 years.

A 7 year imprisonment was imposed on multiple charges of Money laundering of which 4 years is suspended for 5 years. An additional 1 year imprisonment was also imposed for multiple charges of Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ETC).

All sentences are said to run concurrently as a result she will serve an effective 3 year jail term.