The younger sister of suspended attorney Charlotte Tibana, Rirhandzu, has reportedly handed herself over to police as investigators widen their probe into an alleged multimillion-rand deceased-estate fraud and money-laundering scheme.
Rirhandzu reportedly surrendered at the Polokwane Police Station on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by her lawyers and representatives of Hlawu Maluleke Attorneys.
She is expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where she is set to apply for bail.
The exact charges she faces had not been confirmed at the time of publication.
However her reported arrest comes after her name featured prominently during earlier court proceedings involving her sister and Tibana’s husband, Tshwane Metro Police Department officer Peter “Greater Gagash” Nonyane.
The court previously heard allegations concerning two vehicles registered in Rirhandzu’s name, a GWM Haval Jolion and a Ford Ranger Raptor. The Ford was allegedly driven mostly by “Greater Gagash”.
The State questioned how the vehicles were financed, given allegations that Rirhandzu was unemployed and would not ordinarily have qualified for the financing. Investigators are probing whether the vehicles could be linked to proceeds from the alleged criminal activities.
The National Prosecuting Authority has previously told the court that some properties allegedly linked to Tibana were registered in the name of her younger sibling, Rirhandzu, in what the State claims may have been an attempt to conceal proceeds of alleged criminal activity.
Tibana and Nonyane are facing 43 charges, including theft, fraud and money laundering, relating to allegations involving approximately R6 million allegedly taken from deceased estates. The pair were denied bail by the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court earlier this month and remain in custody.
The State alleges that money from deceased estates was unlawfully withdrawn and laundered, with investigators tracing some of the alleged proceeds to luxury vehicles, properties and other transactions.
Rirhandzu’s reported surrender marks a significant new development in the investigation and could bring further scrutiny to the financial trail allegedly surrounding the Tibana family.
A close associate of the Nonyane is also reportedly in police custody in connection with the money-laundering investigation and is expected to appear for a bail application on Monday.
Rirhandzu’s appearance is expected to shed more light on the charges against her and the State’s allegations concerning the vehicles and other assets linked to the investigation.
This is a developing story.
