Stanley Letsoalo (39) of Bolobedu settlement briefly appeared in the Bolobedu Magistrate’s Court last Friday on a charge of corruption. The incidents that led to his arrest took place between 2003 and last week.

The accused was working as an administration clerk at the Bolobedu Magistrate’s court during the time of the incidents. According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani Area, Supt Moatshe Ngoepe, it is alleged that Letsoalo has defrauded 115 people of their estates.

According to the police statement, it is alleged that Letsoalo’s modus operandi was that he would deposit the estate money into his own bank account and give a fraction to the beneficiaries. The statement indicates that Letsoalo had also allegedly registered a number of vehicles that were part of some of the estates in his own name and later sold them to other people.

Although the police are still investigating the matter further, a total of five vehicles and a trailer were recorded as part of the evidence to strengthen the state’s case. The statement further indicates that, in some instances, Letsoalo had allegedly told the beneficiaries that there was nothing for them in the estate account whereas they derseved more than R25 000.

He was not asked to plead during his first court appearance and the case was postponed until today (Friday, January 20) for bail application. The police have appealed to the people who had fallen victim to corruption in the same magistrate’s court between 2003 and last week to come forward with the information.

According to the statement, indications are that Letsoalo might have defrauded the state and the unsuspecting community members of money and goods to the value of millions of rands.