In a disturbing case that unfolded in Polokwane, South Africa, an alleged 27-year-old dating scammer, Yiga Siraje Lubega, and his 32-year-old accomplice, Rhoda Betsey Mirembe, have been remanded in custody following their appearance before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court.
The duo is accused of orchestrating a collaborative scam that targeted a 39-year-old woman from Limpopo province, who, unsuspectingly, lost over 600,000 rands (26 million naira) after entering into a romantic relationship with Lubega.
Hailing from Uganda, as claimed by the alleged scammers, law enforcement agencies in South Africa are actively investigating the allegations. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, revealed that the encounter between Lubega and the Limpopo woman took place in September, where Lubega, driving a white Mercedes-Benz, initiated a romantic involvement.
"While enjoying the new love, the victim (the Limpopo woman) shared her personal problems with the suspect (Lubega), who promised to connect her with a spiritual healer, a ‘prophetess,’ to resolve her issues," explained Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke.
The woman alleges that she was introduced to the so-called prophetess, Mirembe, who claimed she could assist in eliminating her problems through prayers. During a week of prayer sessions, the victim was informed by Mirembe that she had inherited R4 million (N172 million) in hard cash from her ancestors. However, to access the funds, she needed to pay 10 percent of the total amount.
Lacking the required funds, the 39-year-old woman resorted to obtaining a loan of R650,000 (N30 million) from the bank, which she handed over to the "prophetess." The unfolding investigation sheds light on the deceptive tactics employed by the alleged scammers, leaving the victim in financial distress and prompting legal action against Lubega and Mirembe.
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