Lover cons nun

2003-04-12 22:02

Wonder Hlongwa

Durban - Durban police have arrested an alleged fraudster for preying on love-starved women and vanishing with their inheritances. One of them is a former nun.

This week Glen Mali, also known as Timothy Mofokeng, 37, appeared in the Durban Regional Court on a charge of fraud. He allegedly duped Maureen Mabunyathi out of her inheritance.

Mabunyathi, who is in her 30s, was once a nun but had to return to her KwaMashu township home to look after her family after her parents died.

She was allegedly conned by Mali out of almost R100 000 during their love affair. Mali is facing charges of fraud and theft.

This week Mabunyathi told City Press how Mali courted her, enticing her with cars. She said he "promised me heaven on earth".

"He told me he had minibus taxis and that he owned a number of supermarkets and butcheries. When I questioned him why he always wanted money from me, he said he had legal problems because his accounts had been frozen," said Mabunyathi.

For the year that Mabunyathi was in love with Mali, they did not have sexual intercourse.

"He used to say he is using muti and it does not allow him to sleep with women. However, when I discussed this with my friends they were suspicious and told me he could be a crook interested in my money," said Mabunyathi. "He would sometimes phone and say his car had broken down and he needed money to pay for the breakdown service, or he would come up with another problem involving his car and ask for money," said Mabunyathi.

The final straw was when Mali asked for R15 000, which he said he needed to set up a public cellphone business.

For more than two weeks Mali stalled when Mabunyathi and her neighbour wanted to see the cellphone business.

"He became abusive and said I did not trust him. I insisted that I had to see the business. How can I pay for something and not see it? That was the last time I saw him," said Mabunyathi.

She also alleges Mali stole her bar fridge, her parents' clothes, cushions and other household goods. He could not be reached for comment. All cellphone numbers furnished by Mabunyathi as Mali's contact details were off or out of service.

Mali's friends have described him as a "professional liar" who robs unsuspecting women of their money. He allegedly has contacts around Durban who supply him with names of potential victims.

- City Press