News24.com | Bank employee accused of stealing R2.4m from clients to remain behind bars until bail application

A bank employee has been accused of theft.

• A woman who allegedly stole R2.4 million from a Mpumalanga bank will spend a week in jail.
• The woman was arrested at a mall in Witbank.
• She allegedly transferred money from the bank's clients into her account.

A woman accused of stealing R2.4 million from unsuspecting bank clients is behind bars awaiting her bail application.

The 40-year-old Mantshwane Johanna Mabelane was ordered to remain behind bars by the Emalahleni Magistrate's Court.

The Mpumalanga Hawks had earlier arrested Mabelane.

Spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said, on 18 November, officers from the Vosmas police station had received information from their Crime Investigation Division about a suspect who was arrested for R2.4-million fraud at the KG Mall in Emalahleni.

The case docket was opened and transferred to the Middelburg-based Hawks for further investigation.

A preliminary investigation by the Hawks discovered that the suspect was an official from one of the banks in Mpumalanga.

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"Investigations further revealed that Mabelane allegedly manipulated the bank systems and changed the personal particulars of the bank card holders or clients without their consent," Sekgotodi said.

"She allegedly diverted the money from unsuspecting victims into her bank accounts. 

“Some clients were shocked upon discovering the transactions they did not give permission for. The victims went to their bank and reported the matter.

"The bank investigation team conducted an internal investigation, which led to Mabelane's arrest."

Mabelane is expected back in court on 1 December for a bail application and will remain in prison until then. 

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