Florika Owusu and Abongile Tyusha Sentenced for Fraud

Written by
Sinenhlanhla Masilela
Digital Journalist, IOL

Gqeberha, South Africa — Florika Shenay Owusu, 31, and Abongile Tyusha, 30, have been sentenced to prison after committing large-scale fraud and money laundering while employed at Absa bank. The duo manipulated the bank’s system to facilitate fraudulent transfers, resulting in significant financial losses for the institution.

Between November 2019 and June 2021, Owusu and Tyusha exploited their roles at Absa to open fraudulent bank accounts, many using the names of deceased individuals and foreign nationals without their knowledge. Owusu worked as a consultant at the Patensie branch, while Tyusha was stationed at the Dutywa branch. Their responsibilities included issuing bank cards and assisting clients with various banking inquiries.

The accused reactivated 18 dormant accounts, mainly belonging to foreign passport holders and deceased South African citizens. They then used these accounts to facilitate fraudulent transactions, transferring and withdrawing large sums of money. These actions resulted in a financial loss of over R1 million for Absa.

The court sentenced the pair to five years for fraud and theft, and ten years for money laundering. However, four years of the ten-year sentence were suspended for five years, contingent on their compliance with the law. The sentences were handed down after an internal audit at Absa exposed the fraudulent activities.

The Hawks’ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) confirmed that the two bank employees were arrested following the audit, which brought their illegal activities to light.