The siblings accused of insurance claim fraud, Wanda Mbele, 34, and Sindiswa Mbele, 36, will spend Christmas at home after they were both granted R800 bail each at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The Mbele siblings are alleged to have benefited from the death of Noem My Skollie actor David Manuel and his friend Alfonso Fisher who were shot and killed on October 8.
On Tuesday, Magistrate Keith le Keur granted the pair bail with no conditions adding that it was in the “interest of justice” to release them on bail.
According to the State’s case, the accused lived across the road from Manuel in NY 141, Gugulethu, and had allegedly claimed over R100 000 in insurance payouts, having doubled the death benefit of Manuel three days before his murder.
It is the State’s case that from the proceeds of the payouts, couches were purchased from a furniture store. It further submitted in bail proceedings that Manuel’s brother,
Patrick Manuel, was also a funeral cover insured and this cover was taken out about 30 days before the murder of Manuel and Fisher.
Handing down judgment, Le Keur said the two had a clean criminal record and did not face charges of murder. “Excerpts of the phone communications (between the accused) was also attached that they must make or prepare an affidavit to the police station for identification purposes of the deceased, David.
The investigating officer then provided his opinion that fraudsters recruit contacts or persons at home affairs and banks to assist them.
“The police are still probing that and yet to identify those persons.
The applicants also discussed an increased (death payout) amount for Patrick and emailed a request to the minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in which funding was applied for for the funeral assistance (of Manuel),” said Le Keur.
Le Keur also said that while the investigating officer said the main charge being investigated is murder, the Mbele siblings are “not charged with murder”.
“The likelihood of evading justice in the release from custody, the applicants both have a fixed address as well as alternative addresses. (Wanda) is employed and has handed in his passport to the investigating officer. Sindiswa has a child and they are both looking after their elderly mother. ” said Le Keur.
The public gallery, where family and friends of the siblings were seated, erupted in cheer when the two were released on bail.
The matter was postponed until January 28 for further investigation.
Cape Times