Reality TV star and Real Housewives of Cape Town (RHOCT) cast member Kgalalelo Loveline Abinokhauno known as Mrs Leo has avoided serving time behind bars after being sentenced for her involvement in a romance scam that defrauded two foreign women of more than R3.2 million. The Bellville Magistrate’s Court sentenced her to three years of correctional supervision. She was also handed a four-year prison sentence which was suspended for five years on the condition that she does not commit a similar crime during that period.
The court took her personal circumstances into consideration during sentencing. A social worker’s report highlighted that she is a mother of four children and that sending her to prison would have a major impact on her family. The case involved an online dating scam where Mrs Leo and her co-accused targeted an American and a Canadian woman. The victims believed they were speaking to an American engineer working in South Africa who repeatedly asked them for financial help while claiming to be dealing with emergencies. The money was sent with promises that it would be repaid but the repayments never happened. Investigators found that more than R3.2 million moved through accounts connected to them. Prosecutors also alleged that the funds were moved through businesses and accounts linked to the Glory Restoration Assembly Church in Parklands which was accused of being used to help disguise the movement of the money.
While Mrs Leo avoided direct imprisonment, her husband Innocent Abinokhauno, who authorities believe was the alleged mastermind behind the scheme was not present for sentencing. He disappeared before the case concluded and remains at large. Two other accused in the matter received direct prison sentences. The sentencing brings a long-running legal case to a close, with Mrs Leo now serving her sentence under correctional supervision instead of in prison.
