Elie Bumba travelled around brand new Zealand wooing and conference males he came across through different dating apps. Then he took just what cash, cards as well as other products he might get from their website.

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

But their dates that are unwitting perhaps not the actual only real victims of Elie Dongala Bumba’s penchant for pinching money that don’t fit in with him. Flatmates and also their grandmother that is own became goals. As a whole he stole or swindled from 13 individuals or organisations.

Bumba’s story had been revealed at his sentencing within the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday, where he showed up for a raft of costs including causing loss by deception, and utilizing a document for pecuniary benefit.

The initial of his times ended up being a guy whom he linked to through the app that is dating in June 2016. After investing the evening in the guy’s home, Bumba took two debit cards – one individual, one when it comes to guy’s company – and continued a $743 investing spree using them.

But which was simply the begin.

Employing a comparable modus operandi the next thirty days, Bumba connected having an Auckland guy and even though at their household took his bank card, that he utilized to create 98 acquisitions totalling $4846.

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

Early August that year netted A grindr that is fourth date Auckland, from who he took another bank card. This time around the spend-up ended up being $1269.

That target became conscious of the transactions that are unauthorised ended up being unaware it was his intercourse partner, plus the set proceeded to see one another.

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

He came across and took another Auckland victim’s card from the bedside dining table in October 2016. 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. On that event the only real purchase was a $20 Vodafone top-up.

In very early 2017 still another target had been situated. Their bank card details had been removed by Bumba and 110 acquisitions of food, phone credit and transportation services totalling $5662 followed – all without utilization of the card that is actual.

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

Afterwards, while that guy ended up being going for a bath, Bumba photographed his motorist’s licence. He later attempted to make use of the main points from that licence to try to get subscriptions having a motor car leasing service and credit cards. They were declined but applications for Vodafone and 2 levels records proved simpler to obtain. He racked up debts in excess of $3000 to them.

Similar misdeeds happened right after, with Bumba’s flatmate in Auckland and that flatmate’s nephew once the victims.

But before Bumba turned to swindling guys he scammed their very own grandmother – whom had raised him since he had been eight yrs old – by firmly taking her eftpos card and taking place a investing spree into the tune of $1784 between August and October in 2015.

Their grandmother was at medical center during the time, and just discovered exactly what took place whenever she got down.

And previous, in February 2015, Bumba and an associate at work obtained a loan that is fraudulent GE cash, that has been 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 came back to GE cash before Bumba and their buddy had the opportunity to invest it.

In court, Bumba’s attorney Mark Sturm stated their client was happy to be involved in restorative justice conferences together with his victims and had met with one, where he had gotten “a ample reaction”.

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

“This defendant has not yet 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 was available where he could provide a phrase of house or community detention, therefore jail was the sole outcome that is possible.