Mrs Leo from “The Real Housewives of Cape Town” has avoided direct jail time after being sentenced in a fraud case involving more than R3.2 million.
The reality TV personality, whose real name is Kgalalelo Loveline Abinokhauno, was sentenced to three years of correctional supervision and received a four-year prison sentence suspended for five years, provided she is not convicted of a similar offence during that period.
The Bellville Magistrate’s Court concluded the lengthy case on Monday, sentencing Mrs Leo and four co-accused for their involvement in an online dating scam that targeted two foreign women from the United States and Canada.
According to court findings, the victims believed they were communicating with an American engineer said to be working on a project in South Africa. More than R3.2 million was allegedly transferred into bank accounts connected to the accused.
Mrs Leo’s husband, Innocent Abinokhauno, who authorities believe masterminded the operation, absconded after the State closed its case and remains wanted.
The court also considered the effect imprisonment could have on the couple’s four children, aged 19, 17, 10 and 5, after reviewing a social worker’s report.
Co-accused Bright Odumo Ogedengbe received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended for five years. Uguchukwu Nawachukwu, a pastor linked to a church allegedly used to launder money, was sentenced to four years of correctional supervision.
Following the sentencing, Mrs Leo returned home and resumed posting on social media.
