Gqeberha Regional Court sentenced former FNB consultant Lusanda Gloria Qose to five years imprisonment for defrauding an elderly client. The 35-year-old stole R245,000 from 68-year-old Mlungwana Maranti between January and April 2024. Qose altered account details and changed registered phone numbers to intercept security codes. She created duplicate bank cards and drained the pensioner's Money Maximiser account through unauthorized transfers. Her actions violated multiple security layers within the banking system.
Maranti testified that losing his life savings pushed him toward suicidal thoughts. Qose attempted to justify her crimes by citing financial struggles as a single mother supporting two teenagers. Prosecutor Edmyrach Matabata rejected her sympathy appeal and demanded accountability. The court acknowledged her remorse but emphasized that her calculated targeting of vulnerable retirees damaged public trust in financial institutions. Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo praised the sentence as deterrent against banking fraud targeting elderly victims.
Maranti testified that losing his life savings pushed him toward suicidal thoughts. Qose attempted to justify her crimes by citing financial struggles as a single mother supporting two teenagers. Prosecutor Edmyrach Matabata rejected her sympathy appeal and demanded accountability. The court acknowledged her remorse but emphasized that her calculated targeting of vulnerable retirees damaged public trust in financial institutions. Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo praised the sentence as deterrent against banking fraud targeting elderly victims.
