By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former SABC radio presenter, Sebasa Mogale (52) and his wife Dorah Mogale (44) briefly appeared before the Polokwane Magistrates Court on Friday, 15 March on charges of fraud.
They were each released on R10 000 bail and will appear in court again on 20 May.
The couple is facing charges of fraud linked to a Bitcoin scam, which Sebasa allegedly Thobela FM platform to lure people.
According to Limpopo provincial police spokesman Colonel Malesela Ledwàba, reports indicated that in 2020, Sebasa, who worked at one of the SABC radio stations, advertised a scam called “Mining City” on radio.
Ledwaba said people were willing to invest their money, as a well-known radio presenter advertised it.
“In the radio advert, he told listeners to visit his office in Landros Mare Street, Polokwane, to attend the session where he and two other people would present a seminar,” said Ledwaba.
He said people attended the session and brochures were distributed, which indicated the various packages.
“Attendees believed in the advertised scam, reasons being he is Sebasa Mogale, the radio presenter. They gave them reference numbers to individually deposit the money into a Standard Bank account belonging to Altcoin Trader, “Ledwaba said.
The victims deposited money into an account belonging to the Altcoin trader, buying so-called mining packages varying from R6,500 to R253,000.
“The problem started when the victims tried to withdraw their money. That’s when they realised that the details given to them were blocked.
“When victims questioned Sebasa Mogale telephonically about their investment, he told them that the Mining City Scam had collapsed due to the inflation rate. It meant that said investors had lost their money in the scam.
“Victims went back to the office; unfortunately, they found that the office was closed and his phone was on voice mail.”
Ten case dockets have been registered against the suspects at Polokwane and Mokopane SAPS, and more cases are expected to be opened.