Anabela Rungo appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for a bail application while she faces charges related to identity fraud. Picture: Chevon Booysen
Cape Town - An immigration officer took the stand in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday in the bail application of Anabela Rungo – mother of former Miss South Africa contestant, Chidimma Adetshina.
Immigration Specialised Investigation Unit officer, Adrian Jackson, said he was called on Saturday, February 15, to assist in a counter-corruption matter where he was to meet with a person of interest.
Jackson, who told the court he has 18 years experience in immigration matters, said he then went to the Milnerton SAPS station where he met Rungo, 46, who was seated in the police general waiting area with a two-year-old child.
Jackson confirmed they arrested Rungo after she could not provide the unit with legitimate documents, and during an interview process, she said she had “misplaced” her documents.
According to the charge sheet, Rungo remained in the country after being declared a prohibited person and had unlawfully and intentionally come “into possession of an identity certificate belonging to another (and presented it as her own) or belonging to any person other than the person it belongs to” and she had unlawfully submitted “an application to the department of Home Affairs where she identifies herself as Sara Moyo”.
In opposing the bail application for the State, Jackson submitted that due to Rungo’s status as a prohibited person but yet still being capable of acquiring fraudulent documents, she “demonstrated that she had no problem acquiring travel documents or an emergency travel certificate and was able to manipulate the system”.
Jackson said their investigation against Rungo is at a “sensitive stage” and confirmed the department has since deleted the SA identity number which belonged to Sara Moyo, having given Rungo a chance to make representations but she failed to do so.
While Rungo’s South African passport is still outstanding as a piece of evidence to be handed to the State, Jackson added that Rungo’s Mozambican passport reflected that she had on various trips arrived in the country but there was no reflection that she had departed the country in the period between September 5 – when she was declared a prohibited person – until the date of her arrest on February 15.
The media were only allowed to take pictures of the back of Rungo while court was adjourned.
The matter was postponed to Friday for a further bail application hearing.