The manager of the Al Noor orphanage, who was arrested for fraud, is a confirmed bigamist and convicted fraudster, the Cape Town Magistrate court heard on Thursday.
Amina Okpara, 48, also known as Amiena Madien, originally from Cameroon, faces charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
Three other charges of contravention of the immigration act were added as well as more fraud
charges.
Okpara is accused of stealing donations to the Woodstock orphanage by redirecting the money to her personal bank account.
Charges of sexual assault may also be brought against her and her husband Shadrick Okpara, pending an investigation by the Hawks.
Shadrick has since fled back home to Nigeria.
This after the Department of Social Development removed 17 children and shut down the facility following allegations of abuse.
Yesterday, Prosecutor Adiel Jansen said they were opposing bail as Okpara was deemed a flight risk.
Okpara, who is being held in Pollsmoor Prison, appeared in court wearing a black and pink Adidas tracksuit and red doek.
The State read into record the affidavit of Hawks Captain Michael Darries, who said he had “boxes of paperwork” against Okpara detailing fraud, forgery and theft of thousands of rands.
Okpara is accused of stealing donations to the orphanage by redirecting the money to her personal bank account.
Picture: Vincent Cruywagen
He said Okpara had rented out her Quantum taxi to the orphanage, she has a home in Maitland bonded at R4600, while R2000 goes to a private daycare for her five-year-old daughter, and her 19-year-old daughter is a second-year medical student at Stellenbosch University.
She is also subletting a Prasa-owned property.
Darries said Okpara had connections with corrupt officials, as she had been able to alter her police records, and her name is registered in two marriages at Home Affairs.
He added: “We also have images of the two homes she is in the process of building in Nigeria for her return home. She is a flight risk.”
He said after the 17 children were removed from the orphanage, Okpara allegedly threatened them and instructed them to lie to social workers and police.
The matter was postponed to 15 July.