KEY POINTS
- A Free State woman confronted and apprehended Thabo Chele, an alleged scammer, in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court after he defrauded her of R800,000 from her pension savings.
- Chele, already facing fraud charges involving over R1.2 million, was arrested on the spot for the new allegations, with police confirming the opening of a fresh case.
- The woman was lured into investing in a non-existent pharmacy business, highlighting the dangers of financial scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly retirees.
In a dramatic turn of events at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, a Free State woman Thabo Chele took justice into her own hands by confronting and apprehending a man she accused of defrauding her of R800,000.
The accused, Chele, 60, had just stepped out of the dock after appearing for a separate fraud case when the woman grabbed him by the arm and demanded her money back.
“I have been looking for you, and you thought I would never find you. I want my money,” the woman declared as she confronted Chele, who remained silent during the altercation. Police officers, who were present in the courtroom, swiftly intervened and arrested Chele on the spot for the new fraud allegations.
According to Sowetanlive, Chele, along with his alleged son Kingsley Chele and three Home Affairs officials, is already facing charges of fraud and corruption in a separate case involving over R1.2 million.
The Home Affairs officials are accused of providing Chele, who posed as a fake doctor, with a fraudulent ID.
The woman, a retired teacher, had been searching for Chele since April last year after he allegedly scammed her out of her pension money. She traveled 150 kilometers from Daneysville to Pretoria after learning that Chele would be appearing in court.
“As I was sitting in court, I saw him [Thabo] coming in and getting into the witness box. By that time, the investigator, Col Masoding Simon Motolla, was not yet inside the court as he was stuck in traffic. A few minutes later, I saw him walking in. When the case was postponed, I saw Thabo getting out of the dock, and I grabbed him by my left hand and pulled him outside the court. That’s when I started making a noise that he defrauded me and I asked him for my money back. He just kept quiet. Police came and arrested him,” the woman recounted.
Chele, accomplices target medical workers
The state alleges that Chele and his accomplices targeted medical workers and other vulnerable individuals, convincing them to invest in a non-existent pharmacy business. The woman, who is believed to be the latest victim, was introduced to Chele by a man named Moosa, who posed as a herbalist.
“They knew I was about to retire, but they convinced me to take an early retirement and cash out my pension and give it to them, promising that my investment would grow into R5 million,” she explained.
After withdrawing her pension money, the woman was instructed to bring the cash to an ancestral ceremony in Vereeniging, where Chele claimed he would perform rituals to increase her investment. However, after the ceremony, both Chele and Moosa disappeared with her money.
Police spokesperson Col Mavela Masondo confirmed that a new case of fraud was opened against Chele on Thursday. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging other potential victims to come forward.
This case highlights the growing issue of financial scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly retirees. The woman’s determination to seek justice serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and due diligence when dealing with financial investments.
