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'Moses' facing jail for swindling churchgoers out of £3.2 million
Mark Blunden and George Draycott10 Mar 2008
A "modern-day Moses" who fleeced churchgoers out of more than £3.2 million faces jail.
Lindani Mangena, 24, preyed on more than 1,000 worshippers in Seventh Day Adventist congregations across London to feed his appetite for fine living.
Mangena posed as a City trader to convince them to invest in a bogus spread-betting formula. Southwark Crown Court heard that along with two accomplices he promised profits of up to 3,000 per cent in six months.
Many victims, including widows and pensioners, were forced to remortgage their homes. Much of their money was spent on property, cars and holidays. One hotel stay in Dubai cost £55,815. Building surveyor-Desmond Vincent, who lost £70,000, told the court: "We thought Lindani Mangena was like a modern-day Moses. I thought the Lord had blessed him. Now he couldn't sell me chewing gum."
Lucy Acquah, a council worker, told how she was swindled out of £76,000 after remortgaging her home.
Mangena, 24, of Maidstone Avenue, Romford, was found guilty of fraudulent trading, money laundering, and carrying on an unauthorised investment business.
Dean Hinkson, 29 of Bensham Lane, West Croydon, and Curtis Powell, 31, of Hythe Road, Thornton Heath, were convicted of communicating an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity.
Reader views (2)
This is an excellent example of why the Ben Johnson play The Alchemist should be made compulsory in all schools. If it seems to good to be true, it usually is.
- Clare, London, 10/03/2008 16:49
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He's a very bad man but it was their greed that got to them.
- Charlie, London, 10/03/2008 13:12
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