TMPD officer, attorney wife to appeal bail denial at Polokwane High Court
POLOKWANE — Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) Constable Peter “Gagash” Nonyane and his wife, attorney Charlotte Tibana, are expected to appear before the Polokwane High Court on Wednesday to appeal the decision denying them bail.
The couple’s bail appeal follows the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court’s decision to deny them bail in a case involving allegations of fraud, theft and money laundering linked to deceased estates.
The State and the accused’s legal representatives are expected to file their respective heads of argument on Tuesday, September 22, ahead of Wednesday’s bail appeal hearing.
Nonyane, 36, and Tibana, 33, are facing 43 charges, including theft, fraud, alternatively theft, and money laundering. The charges relate to allegations that funds belonging to deceased estates were unlawfully withdrawn, transferred and allegedly used for personal benefit.
The State alleges that about R6 million was unlawfully withdrawn and laundered from accounts linked to different deceased estates.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), some of the alleged proceeds were used to purchase a pre-owned Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 valued at approximately R1.65 million. The State further alleges that money was used for stokvel contributions and the construction of a residential property.
The case involves several deceased estates, including those of the Masha, Mathabatha, Maswanganyi, Moetji and Kobe families. Earlier court proceedings heard allegations that more than R4 million had been taken from some of the estate accounts.
The State has also alleged that the accused acted in common purpose on some of the charges.
During the bail proceedings, the State opposed their release, citing the seriousness of the charges, the ongoing investigation and allegations that Tibana had contacted witnesses and police officials.
The prosecution further alleged that Tibana continued contacting witnesses while in custody and that investigators were in possession of voice recordings allegedly sent to complainants.
The couple were arrested separately in August. Nonyane was arrested in Pretoria on August 14, while Tibana was arrested in Polokwane on August 17 following an investigation into the alleged unlawful withdrawal and laundering of funds from deceased estates.
They remain in custody.
