{
  "id": 2395384,
  "title": "Lawyer accused in estate fraud tried to stop investigations: Witness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lawyer-accused-in-estate-fraud-tried-to-stop-investigations-witness",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T15:13:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/lawyer-accused-in-estate-fraud-tried-to-stop-investigations-witness/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Constable Thobejane, a state witness in the case of Charlotte Tibana and Peter Nonyane allegedly accused of defrauding deceased estate accounts, testified in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo. The couple is suspected of siphoning over R4 million across three estate accounts between 2024 and 2026. They are also accused of attempting to acquire a luxury vehicle valued at R1.7 million by posing as beneficiaries of one of the estates.\n\nThobejane revealed that Tibana attempted to halt the ongoing investigation by contacting her commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Makoa. According to Thobejane, Tibana had requested a meeting with the commander after she learned that a case against her was being investigated. Nonyane and Tibana are currently on trial for two counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering.",
  "summary": "The couple allegedly defrauded three estate accounts of more than R4 million between 2024 and 2026.",
  "key_points": [
    "Charlotte Tibana and Peter Nonyane accused of defrauding deceased estate accounts",
    "Thobejane, witness, sought to stop investigations by contacting commander",
    "Tibana and Nonyane on trial for fraud and money laundering"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}