A 31-year-old foreign national has been given a 30-year jail sentence for defrauding a mine employee of his pension of R955 300.
Sophia Najjia (31), approached the mine employee in July 2020 promising to multiply his pension into millions of rands.
The 54-year-old pensioner, who is also a foreign national lived in one of the mine hostels, when he met Najjia and fell in love with her.
She introduced him to her sister, who she said was a traditional healer.
The sister lived in Tana Street Doorn Welkom. They told him to buy a miracle box “valued” at R2 000.
Two days later the man gave the traditional healer the money she had asked for, as she wanted to show him how the miracle box worked.
The two woman then said that he had to place a coin inside the box, and then close it.
The traditional healer prayed and opened the box and there was a lot of money inside. They told him that the money belonged to him.
Najjia encouraged the man to retire from work so that he can make more money from the miracle box.
In August 2020, the miner retired and in September 2020 he received R233 000, which was some of his retirement money.
He gave Najjia R232 000 to invest in the miracle box.
Later in October 2020, the man received his provident fund money of at R689 000. He gave this to Najjia’s sister to put it inside the miracle box.
On Wednesday, 4 November 2020, he gave them the rest of the money in his bank account to R12 300. He was told to wait for instructions.
Najjia told him to return to his home in one of the neighbouring countries and to bring them soil from his yard and to put it with the money in the miracle box, so that the ancestors can multiply the money into millions of rands.
He was given R1 000, when he told them he did not have money to go home.
After this the man tried on several occasions to contact them, but to no avail. They were gone.
The man became suspicious and went to the Welkom Police Station to register a case of fraud.
Const. Neo Mothekhe of provincial pommercial prime investigations was assigned the case, and Najjia was traced and arrested on 23 January 2021.
Bail was successfully opposed and she remained in custody until she was found guilty on charges of Unfair Business Practise, Defeating the ends of justice, Fraud and Illegal Immigration.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Maj. Gen. Solly Lesia applauded the investigator for his work and dedication in this case, and for ensuring that a thorough investigation was conducted which led to the arrest of Najjia, who received a stiff sentence.
Lesia says large employers must inform families when an employee suddenly resigns.
