New recruit duped into handing over P110, 000 to lover of one-month
A month ago, life was looking perfect for Precious Mautle.
Having recently completed her training, the newly-recruited 20-year-old Private was finally a fully-fledged member of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF).
Stationed at Thebephatshwa Airbase, with her career in the army taking off, Mautle’s love life was also flying high.
In early September, she started dating a man she met on TikTok, 22-year-old Mmoloki Muloongo.
However, it seems the new boyfriend was more interested in the soldier’s pockets than her heart.
On 3rd October, exactly a month into the relationship, Muloongo and two other men, Ramontsho Bakang, 21, and Phemo Mmusi, 30, allegedly tricked her into handing over P110, 000 in cash, with the promise they had a special machine that would increase it.
Instead, the trio reportedly fled with the money, leaving Mautle with little option but to report the matter to the police.
After a week-long search, the three suspects were tracked down, Muloongo busted in Francistown, Bakang in Selibe Phikwe and Mmusi in Borolong.
Charged with obtaining by false pretences, they were arraigned before Francistown Magistrates Court on Monday and remanded in custody, as per the complainant’s wishes.
“I do not want Mmoloki to be granted bail because after he took my money he decided to run away. Granting him bail now he might abscond again and I am not sure if I will be safe with him outside. Same applies to his co-accused. I do not know what they are thinking as they also fled; I do not want them being given bail,” an adamant Mautle told court, doing her best to avoid any eye-contact with Muloongo, who was seated nearby.
Reinforcing these sentiments, the Investigating Officer (IO), Kgakololo Basupi said if set free, the accused might attempt to intimidate the witness or even destroy the evidence, further informing court the money was yet to be recovered.
“The offence was reported on the 3rd of October this year and the accused persons were only caught on the 10th. I have not finished my investigations as I am still to record statements from the possible witnesses,” continued the IO, adding it was in society’s best interest for the suspected scammers to remain locked up for now, as they might strike again if freed.
Similarly, the Prosecutor, Kenneth Bokhakha pleaded for remand to allow the police to wrap up their investigations without the fear of interference.
Taking to the stand, the accused, whose pleas were reserved, defiantly sought bail, noting they were all Batswana citizens with clean records and no previous brushes with the law.
Their attempts at a quick release proved futile, however, with the Magistrate ruling they remain behind bars until their next court appearance, set for 4 November.
Leaving the courtroom, Mautle awkwardly brushed past the shackled Muloongo at the exit; however, he didn’t notice, as he was too busy trying to hide his face from The Voice’s flashing camera.
Sources close to the case told The Voice the suspected conmen convinced the complainant to take out a P241, 000 loan from Bayport.
She then managed to withdraw P100, 000 inside Absa bank’s Galo Mall branch in Francistown, before cashing a further P10, 000 at the ATM, at which point the bank blocked any further transactions.
It is said the four then went to a nearby guesthouse together, where the men claimed their ‘special’ machine was kept.
A little while later, the trio departed, apparently explaining they had to run an errand but would be back soon.
Left alone, a horrified Mautle eventually realised the bag she believed contained her cash was actually full of cut-up paper; the money was gone!
Ke one marato a TikTok le Internet.