The R4.2 million fraud case involving Phoenix woman and alleged mastermind Lingasparee Leigh Madurai, the wife of Pastor Dhanapalan Madurai, and her five co-accused has taken a dramatic turn, with Madurai and her five co-accused now facing additional money laundering charges. Madurai appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 August, alongside her co-accused, including her husband, daughter, a church associate and two service providers.
The latest development has added another serious dimension to a case that has already attracted significant public interest, with the State alleging that more than R4 million was fraudulently obtained from Madurai’s former company, P&A Fabricators, over several years. The accused’s attorneys requested additional time to prepare their defence following the addition of the money laundering charges. The matter was subsequently postponed to 9 October 2026. All six accused remain out on bail and have denied the allegations.
Former P&A Fabricators creditors clerk Senamile Mthabela pleaded guilty to several counts of fraud during an earlier court appearance and has since been sentenced. Mthabela’s plea statement allegedly revealed how she conspired with a co-worker to defraud their former employer and provided the State with an account of how the alleged scheme was carried out. Madurai, who worked at P&A Fabricators for 27 years and held a senior financial and human resources position, is accused of abusing her position of trust to orchestrate the alleged fraud scheme.
According to Mthabela’s plea statement, she was aware of Madurai’s alleged modus operandi and knowingly participated in it for her own financial benefit, despite understanding that her actions were to the detriment of the company.
According to court documents, the State alleges that Madurai diverted company funds into personal bank accounts and disguised the transactions as payments to creditors. Prosecutors further allege that the money was used to fund personal expenses, including luxury purchases, holidays, parties and church tithes. Among the more disturbing allegations is that some of the money was allegedly spent on personal items, including expensive underwear, as well as holidays and other expenses.
According to Mthabela’s plea statement, while carrying out her filing duties, she noticed alleged irregularities relating to payments made by Madurai. She allegedly approached Madurai to enquire about the discrepancies, where Madurai allegedly explained how she had processed undue payments to herself. Madurai allegedly offered to do the same for Mthabela in exchange for her not disclosing or exposing the alleged fraudulent scheme.
Mthabela admitted that she agreed to the arrangement and benefited financially from it. She was subsequently sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that she is not convicted of fraud committed during the period of suspension.
Madurai was granted bail of R50 000 and faces the charges alongside her husband, Dhanapalan Jayce Madurai, a pastor who faces fraud and money laundering charges and was also released on R50 000 bail. Their daughter, Devaksha Mangaru, faces fraud charges in a separate case and was released on warning. The other accused include suppliers Vani Archari, Mehmood Cassim and Zanab Cassim, who face fraud-related charges. The State alleges that the accused either participated in or benefited from the alleged fraudulent scheme.
