Court Denies Bail to Attorney and TMPD Official in R6 Million Theft Case

An attorney and her husband, a Tshwane Metro Police Department official, were denied bail by the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court on Friday following a hearing concerning an alleged multi-million-rand fraud and money laundering scheme. Attorney Charlotte Tibana, 33, and TMPD official Peter Nonyane, 36—also known as Peter “Gagash” Nonyane—face a total of 43 charges, including theft, fraud, and money laundering according to TimesLIVE. The pair have been in custody since their arrests in August 2026.

Court Denies Bail in R6 Million Deceased Estates Theft Case

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi stated that the State had presented a strong case against the accused and that they failed to demonstrate that their release would be in the interests of justice as reported by Jacaranda FM. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi noted that prosecutors successfully argued that the gravity of the allegations, ongoing investigations, and the strength of the evidence justified keeping both defendants behind bars according to IOL.

Alleged Siphoning of Deceased Estates

The charges stem from Tibana’s role as an executor in the administration of multiple deceased estates. Prosecutors allege that the couple unlawfully withdrew, concealed, and laundered approximately R6 million from bank accounts belonging to various deceased estates between 2024 and July 2026. Investigators submitted that Tibana continued committing offenses even after becoming aware that she was under criminal investigation.

Court Denies Bail to Attorney and TMPD Official in R6 Million Theft Case — Photo: Jacaranda FM

During the proceedings, the court examined specific financial transactions tied to the case:

Approximately R1.65 million of the alleged proceeds was reportedly used to purchase a used Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 from a Pretoria dealership.
In a separate estate matter valued at R4.25 million, the State alleged that only R1.47 million reached the deceased’s children, while the remaining funds were misappropriated.
Nonyane is accused of using a portion of the funds to make stokvel contributions and finance the construction of a residential property.
Magistrate Netshiozwi also questioned how Nonyane managed to secure financing for a luxury vehicle while earning a monthly salary of around R11,000.

Witness Interference and Asset Concealment Claims

The State brought forward allegations that Tibana actively interfered with the ongoing police investigation. Prosecutors told the court that the investigating officer possessed voice recordings allegedly sent by Tibana to complainants and police officials, urging them to close the case. Furthermore, the State alleged that Tibana continued communicating with witnesses even after being taken into custody.

Tshwane metro police officer Peter Nonyane also known as “Lamasweet” or “Greater Gagash Municipality” with his attorney wife — Photo: TimesLIVE

Prosecutors also presented claims that Tibana owned several properties, some of which were registered under the name of her younger sibling, Rirhandzu Tibana, in an effort to conceal the proceeds of the alleged crimes. The court heard that Tibana previously worked at the Master’s Office before qualifying as an attorney, making her familiar with the legal processes and responsibilities governing deceased estates.

Magistrate’s Ruling and Next Steps

Magistrate Netshiozwi ruled that the couple acted in common purpose, noting that funds were transferred into accounts including a stokvel in which Nonyane was a member, despite neither suspect being a beneficiary of the estates. The court also expressed concern that Tibana remained officially listed as an executor in the affected estates, posing a continued risk to beneficiaries and the integrity of the investigation.

Metro police officer in R6m deceased estates’ fraud wrap

Addressing the defense’s position, the magistrate noted that releasing Nonyane while Tibana remained incarcerated would fail to mitigate risks due to their marital relationship. If the court releases accused number two from custody, it is like removing an engine from a car and expecting the car to run without an engine, Netshiozwi remarked.

Bail was formally refused for both defendants. The case has been postponed to November 6, 2026, for further investigation.

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