WATCH | Lawyer accused of theft threatened to kill herself during arrest
A lawyer who, with her husband, is accused of stealing dead people’s money, evaded arrest for some time, and on the day she was arrested threatened to kill herself should she be granted bail.
That is according to an investigating officer in the case of Tshwane metro police officer Peter Nonyane, also known as “Lamasweet” or “Greater Gagash Municipality”, and attorney wife Charlotte Tibana.
The two were arrested on allegations of the unlawful withdrawal and laundering of about R1.75m from the bank accounts of two deceased estates.
They are appearing in the Polokwane magistrate’s court for a bail hearing.
Tshwane Metro police officer Constable Peter “Gagash” Nonyane and his attorney wife Charlotte Tibana at Polokwane magistrates court for a bail application. The two allegedly stole money from deceased estates. Video: Sontaga Letshelele pic.twitter.com/ToHtfASpHn— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) August 24, 2026
According to Const Phuthisho Thobejane, the two should not be granted bail, as they may evade trial. He said they live in two different provinces, and their passports show that they frequently fly to Turkey.
He said when he arrested Nonyane, he also called Tibana, who then said she would present herself at Polokwane police station but failed to do so.
“But when I arrived in Polokwane, she didn’t answer my calls. Later when she answered, she told me she is in Tzaneen. She told me not to come with a police-marked vehicle because I will bring attention to her, and that will be embarrassing,” Thobejane said.
Thobejane said he kept in touch with Tibana, who continued to evade arrest. He also said that when he finally arrested her, Tibana told him that if she were to be released on bail, she would take her own life.
Thobejane said their investigations showed that Nonyane takes home a salary of R11,000 per month but is paying R46,000 a month for a Mercedes-Benz V-Class.
He said Nonyane could not afford that amount because “he doesn’t have other business interests or income”.