Ugandan man goes into hiding after stealing over 300million from his South African lover

Police in Mpumalanga Province in South Africa  have launched an extensive manhunt for a Ugandan man identified as Lucky Innocent Talemwa after he swindled R1.6 million (approximately UGX 319,000,000) from a woman in a love scam.

“The police in Middelburg are requesting members of the public to assist in locating Mr Lucky Innocent Talemwa, as investigators are convinced that he could be of great assistance in their probe of a theft case amounting to R1.6 million,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

A case of theft under false pretence was opened at Middelburg police station in April 2023 after the Mpumalanga woman had a relationship with  the Ugandan man.

During the relationship, the wanted man informed the woman that he is a Ugandan national.

“The victim further alluded that the two were an item and it was during the course of their relationship that the man reportedly showed her a lot of black notes,” Mohlala said.

“He then convinced her that, in order for him to convert the black notes into real South African bank notes, he would need a lot of real South African bank notes,” he said.

The woman eventually resigned from her job and subsequently withdrew money on different days. She handed the money to her lover, convinced that he would convert his cache of bank notes into “real bank notes”.

“The total amount of cash that was reportedly given to the man is about R1.6 million,” police said.

The lover then “vanished into thin air” and since then he has never been seen by the Mpumalanga woman.

“A case was then registered with the police. When investigators continue with their probe, they then realised that Mr Lucky Innocent Talemwa could be of great help in their quest to find the suspect, hence police urge Mr Talemwa to immediately come into contact with the police in Middelburg,” Mohlala said.

“Police further urge anyone who might know his whereabouts to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via the My SAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.”