Elie Bumba travelled around brand new Zealand wooing and conference males he came across through different apps that are dating. He then took exactly what cash, cards along with other things he might get from their store.

It had been a life style of deception and duplicity that earned the Hamilton 22-year-old about $24,000 in illegal takings and, fundamentally, a 22-month stint in prison.

But their dates that are unwitting maybe not the actual only real victims of Elie Dongala Bumba’s penchant for pinching cash that did not are part of him. Flatmates as well as their very own grandmother became their objectives. As a whole he stole or swindled from 13 individuals or organisations.

Bumba’s story ended up being revealed at their sentencing within the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday, where he showed up for a raft of fees including causing loss by deception, and employing a document for pecuniary benefit.

Initial of his times ended up being a guy whom he associated with through the dating application Grindr in June 2016. After investing the evening during the guy’s house, Bumba took two debit cards – one individual, one for the guy’s company – and proceeded a $743 investing spree using them.

But that has been simply the start.

Utilizing a modus that is similar listed here thirty days, Bumba connected having an Auckland guy even though at their household took their charge card, that he utilized to produce 98 acquisitions totalling $4846.

The month that is same found another victim in Hamilton through Grindr, and took that guy’s charge card from their wallet, which he utilized for acquisitions well worth $403.

Early August that year netted a 4th grindr date in Auckland, from who he took another bank card. This time the spend-up had been $1269.

That target became alert to the transactions that are unauthorised ended up being unaware it was their intercourse partner, therefore the set proceeded to see one another.

In March 2017 that guy decided to go to the Southern Island even though he was down there Bumba made acquisitions on a various card in Auckland, and exposed records with Vodafone and 2 levels Cellphone, incurring debts of greater than $3000.

He came across and stole another Auckland target’s card from the bedside dining table in 2016 october. Then your month that is following utilized the dating app Hornet to meet up with another target, whom he saw many times throughout the after months.

Bumba swiped US$1100 (about NZ$1645) in money from that guy’s bedside cabinet and got their charge card details. The only purchase was a $20 Vodafone top-up on that occasion.

During the early 2017 yet another target had been found. His charge card details had been removed by Bumba and 110 acquisitions of meals, phone credit and transportation services totalling $5662 followed – all without utilization of the real card.

In 2018 Bumba used Grindr to find another victim february. Bumba booked space during the Astelia resort in Wellington also it ended up being here they came across.

Afterwards, while a shower was being taken by that man, Bumba photographed their motorist’s licence. He later attempted to utilize the main points from that licence to use for subscriptions having a car leasing service and credit cards. They certainly were declined but applications for Vodafone and 2 levels reports proved more straightforward to get. He racked up debts in excess of $3000 in it.

Comparable misdeeds were held immediately after, with Bumba’s flatmate in Auckland and that flatmate’s nephew once the victims.

But before Bumba turned to swindling males he cheated their grandmother that is own had raised him since he had been eight years old – by firmly taking her eftpos card and happening a spending spree to your tune of $1784 between August and October in 2015.

His grandmother was at hospital during the right time, and only heard bout just what occurred whenever she got down.

And previous, in February 2015, Bumba and an associate at work obtained a fraudulent loan via GE cash, that was deposited into their Kiwibank banking account.

The lender picked through to discrepancies within the application for the loan and documents and a lot of the funds had been gone back to GE cash before Bumba and their friend had to be able to invest it.

In court, Bumba’s attorney Mark Sturm stated their customer was indeed prepared to be involved in restorative justice conferences along with his victims along with met with one, where he had Honolulu escort service gotten “a ample reaction”.

Sturm additionally alluded to events that are traumatic Bumba’s past which had assisted to contour their current circumstances, but these are not expanded on in court.

“This defendant hasn’t had it effortless in life,” he stated.

As Judge Kim Saunders noted whenever sentencing Bumba, while their history may assist to explain their behavior, it would not excuse it.

No target had been available where he could provide a phrase of home or community detention, therefore jail was the actual only real outcome that is possible.