POLOKWANE – A 53-year-old estate controller employed at the Office of the Master of the High Court in Polokwane remains in custody following his arrest on allegations of corruption and money laundering. Gustavus Moloto appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday alongside his co-accused, suspended estate attorney Charlotte Tibana.
Moloto was apprehended by the Hawks at his office within the Master of the High Court precinct earlier Tuesday morning. He and Tibana now face a combined total of six criminal charges, including corruption, conspiracy to commit corruption, and money laundering.
State prosecutor Advocate Martin Molokwane told the court that the charges stem from an illicit arrangement in which Moloto allegedly abused his position of authority. It is alleged that Moloto provided Tibana with sensitive deceased estate files that she was not authorized to handle. In exchange for these files, Moloto reportedly accepted gratification totaling R10,500.
“Accused number two [Tibana] offered or agreed to offer gratification in the amount of R10,500 as a reward to accused number one, Gustavus Moloto,” Advocate Molokwane stated. “This was in exchange for Moloto to refer clients and heirs of deceased estates to Tibana, utilizing his position at the Master of the High Court to grant her access to these files.”
During the brief proceedings, Magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi confirmed that the state intends to oppose bail for the accused as investigations into the matter are ongoing. While the defense and the state agreed to a postponement, the court confirmed that both suspects would remain behind bars.
Tibana, who has already been in custody due to a separate, high-profile case, formally abandoned her bail application. She is currently embroiled in a massive fraud scandal involving the alleged misappropriation of more than R11 million from deceased estate accounts. In that separate matter, Tibana faces 123 charges alongside her husband, Peter “Gagash” Nonyane, her sibling Rirhandzu Tibana, Jabulani Maluleke, and the entity Risima Jeje trading enterprise.
Magistrate Netshiozwi postponed the current case against Moloto and Tibana to Monday, November 16, to allow for further investigation and to facilitate Moloto’s upcoming bail application.
The arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to dismantle fraud syndicates targeting deceased estates in Limpopo. Authorities have indicated that the investigation is active and further arrests cannot be ruled out as they continue to probe the extent of the corruption within the Master’s Office.
Moloto will remain in police custody until his bail hearing next week, while Tibana will return to the holding cells to await the next phase of her multiple legal battles.
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