Pensioner arrested for allegedly defrauding relative of RAF payout
A pensioner has appeared in court on a charge of fraud after allegedly spending a R255 000 Road Accident Fund (RAF) payout meant to compensate a relative injured in a minibus taxi accident, reports TimesLIVE.
Mavis Ganyaza (82) appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday.
The complainant was injured in a crash on 22 January 2020.
‘She approached attorneys in Mthatha to lodge a claim with the RAF on her behalf,’ said Hawks spokesperson Warrrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana.
Inquiring about the status of her claim in December 2021, she was told by the attorneys it had been successful and compensation was paid into a bank account.
However, she had no knowledge of the account.
An investigation by the Hawks revealed the funds were deposited to Ganyaza, a close relative.
Mhlakuvana said the investigation revealed that the accused intentionally submitted documents to the attorneys pretending to be the rightful claimant.
Ganyaza was arrested on Wednesday and was released on warning after appearing in court.
The case was postponed to 29 January 2024.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
