Two Former Bank Employees Appear In Court For A R1 Million Theft

Two women, Florida Owusu and Abongile Tyusha, both aged 28, briefly appeared in the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today. The two former ABSA bank employees were charged with 31 counts of fraud, 80 theft charges and 90 counts of money laundering.

Between November 2019 and October 2020, the accused were employed at the bank’s Patensie ABSA branch. Tyusha was later transferred to the ABSA Dutywa branch, as a sales consultant.  They embarked on an elaborate scheme, while at the two branches that saw them allegedly opening bank accounts in the names of deceased persons, and a Chinese foreign national, whose passport had expired.

The accused then identified dormant client accounts with money, this is an account that has had no financial activity for some time. On several occasions, the accused then transferred amounts ranging between R4 500 and R370 000, to the accounts they created fraudulently, and used the money for their benefit.  The duo was arrested by the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI), the Hawks.

The state, represented by Senior State Adv. Lise Keech did not oppose bail and the court granted the accused an R1000 bail. Their case was postponed to 31 August 2022, for the accused to secure Legal Aid, and for further charges to be added.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali

NPA Regional Spokesperson

Eastern Cape Division

Tel: 0475012630

Cell: 073 555 9292

Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za