Malalane - After nearly two weeks in custody, an Mpumalanga woman accused of fraud was finally released on R1000 bail when she appeared in court on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Fredrick Mhelembe told the Tonga Regional Court that the investigating officer had confirmed the woman's residential address, allowing her to be granted bail.
Thembekile Felicia Ngomane, 29, of Pienaar, was arrested on April 10 at a furniture shop at the Matsamo shopping plaza in Schoemansdal, south of Malalane, a Sapa correspondent reported.
She was accused of defrauding the shop of goods valued around R20 000. At the time, she begged to be released on warning so she could continue breastfeeding her child. The court refused, pending confirmation of her residential address.
“She is accused of submitting a fraudulent payslip, bank statement and salary advice that did not belong to her.
“The goods, worth R20 000, included a washing machine, one stove and a 109cm TV.
“She has not been asked to plead to the fraud charges yet.”
The matter was postponed to May 22.
Sapa