The Makhanda Regional Court sentenced Joseph Moalusi (21) to a R20 000 fine and a further five (5) years of direct imprisonment suspended for five (5) years on Friday, August 11, after he was found guilty of estate funds fraud committed via email.
According to police spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, in 2020, Whiteside Attorneys in Grahamstown received an instruction from Remax Frontier Properties to attend to a property transfer between the seller and buyer.
Mgolodela said the attorneys requested the banking details of the seller via e-mail, and the e-mail returned with banking details which were purported to be those of the seller.
“When the seller could not receive the money and complained with the Attorneys, the matter was referred to the Gqeberha Serious Commercial Investigation (SCCI) of the Hawks for investigation.
“The investigation revealed that Moalusi intercepted with the victim’s e-mail address and successfully prejudiced the victim more than R230 000. Moalusi was traced and arrested in Alexandra, Johannesburg, in 2022,” said Mgolodela.
