By: Natasha Archary
The fraud case against a former ABSA employee who was accused of stealing R103 million has been withdrawn.
This after the suspect, Xolela Masebani was found murdered in his Eastern Cape home two weeks ago.
A death certificate for the 30-year old suspect was presented to the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
Masebani’s death does not bring the case to an end as charges against the other suspects implicated can still proceed.
It is believed that Masebani was shot to death.
He was released on bail of R50 000 in February and was set to stand trial for allegedly stealing R103 million from the bank over three months.
His girlfriend, Athembile Mpani and another suspect Gershom Matomane, will face charges of fraud and money laundering.
Masebani was hired as a specialist engineer at ABSA and allegedly transferred the large amounts of cash to six different bank accounts.
Between September and December 2021, Xolani Masebani also transferred funds to his girlfriend’s account.
Mpani is the mother of Masebani’s three children and the couple are accused of using the money to buy property, cars and on spending sprees.
Also read: Edwin Sodi hands himself in after alleged assault on estranged wife’s male friend



