AS ‘FACATA’ SCAM INVESTIGATIONS INTENSIFY: INYANGA FOUND WITH E30 000 AS 6 MORE ARRESTED

MANZINI - As investigations into the ‘facata’ scam intensify, six more suspects have been arrested and they include an inyanga, who was found with E30 000 cash.

Five of the suspects from Siteki, Malindza, Mpaka and KaBhudla, were arrested on Monday, while the sixth one, is a woman from Thulwane and was arrested yesterday.  This takes the number of suspects who have been arrested for the ‘facata’ scam to 32.  According to a source close to the matter, the female traditional healer (inyanga) from KaBhudla under Mafutseni Constituency, in the Manzini Region, was found with money in cash, amounting to E30 000.

Defrauded

The source said the money is believed to be part of a sum of E234 000, which the ‘facata’ scam suspects defrauded a Matsapha businessman, through cybercrime. The source revealed that the scammers purportedly trick their targets into punching their secret personal information on their cellphones, which then allows them to remotely withdraw from their prey’s MTN Eswatini Mobile Money (MoMo) and bank accounts. Last Thursday, 11 of the alleged scammers appeared before Manzini Senior Magistrate Nonhlanhla Dlamini, charged with 28 counts. The offences involved contravening the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, theft by false pretences, as well as the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 2018.

The amount, which they supposedly defrauded the unsuspecting members of the public, amounted to E955 691.73 - according to their charge sheets. The 11 suspects are: Lindelwa Fana Mbingo (19) of Thulwane, Celumusa Mdumseni Msibi (27) of Sithobelweni, Nhlanhla Maseko (21) of Thulwane, Wakhile Felix Mtsetfwa (19) of Thulwane, Sandile Wandile Matsenjwa (30) of KaBhudla, Wakhile Sanele Mamba (19) of Thulwane, and Sipho Neliswa Mbingo Liswati (21) of Thulwane. Others include Nkosikhona Fisokuhle Maziya (24) of KaBhudla and Siyabonga Sakhile Ndlovu (22) of KaBhudla. Gcina Ndlovu (21) of KaBhudla and Mbongeni Bongani Maphalala (22) of Thulwane were also conjoined to the crimes, charged with theft by false pretences.

One of the six suspects, who were arrested recently, is a 48-year-old man of Thulwane, and it is alleged that he also purportedly harboured some of the ‘facata’ scam suspects. The suspect, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Thomo, made his maiden appearance before Manzini Principal Magistrate Florence Msibi yesterday. He is facing three counts, which include that of contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 2018, the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, as well as theft by false pretences.According to sources, Thomo was purportedly harbouring some of the suspects involved in the ‘facata’ scam, at his residential home at Thulwane.  On the other hand, according to the charge sheet, in the first count, the accused person, being a member of a criminal gang involved in criminal activities, allegedly obtained and stole E12 000 from Fikile Sifundza in June 2024.

Hacking

The incident is said to have happened at Mhlumeni in the Lubombo Region. Through this offence, he reportedly contravened Section 5 (1) (a) (b) and Section 5 (2) (a), (b) and (c) as read with Section 6 (1) and (b) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 2018. In the second count, he reportedly defrauded Sifundza a sum of E12 000. It is said that he supposedly posed as someone who was removing hacking viruses from her cellphone and MTN Eswatini MoMo account.  In the process, it is alleged that he purportedly induced her to provide him with her MTN Eswatini MoMo credentials.

According to the charge sheet, this offence happened in June 2024 at Mhlumeni in the Lubombo Region. In the third count, it is alleged that Thomo contravened the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Preventive) Act of 2011 on June 6, 2024 and October 25, 2024, while he was reportedly using money, which had been obtained through the commission of an offence, while knowing or having reason to believe that the cash had been gained through criminal offences.  During his appearance before the Manzini principal magistrate yesterday, the accused person’s right to legal representation was explained and he chose to hire the services of an attorney. He was remanded in custody until November 6, 2024, pending committal to the High Court.

On another note, the source highlighted that more arrests are expected, as the suspects who are already in custody, are cooperating with the police in their investigations. In fact, he said the arrest of six suspects on Monday and yesterday, was a result of the cooperation received by the investigating officers from the suspects, who are already in custody. The arrest of the six suspects was confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, who said they will appear in court in due course.
It is worth noting that when the first arrests were made, it appeared as if the suspects come from KaBhudla and Thulwane; and these places share boundaries.  However, following the recent arrest, it is clear that some of the suspects come from the Lubombo Region; Siteki, Malindza and Mpaka.

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