Former Eastern Cape Primary School Employee Fined R20,000 for Stealing Over R500,000
- The former financial planner of the Fort Beaufort Primary School in the Eastern Cape was sentenced for stealing over half a million from the school
- She stole the money between 2017 to 2018, and an investigation into her financial mismanagement was launched
- South Africans were disappointed that she was given what many consider a lenient sentence
Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered criminal activities, police investigations, police shootouts and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.
FORT BEAUFORT, EASTERN CAPE — The KwaMaqoma Regional Court sentenced Lilian Lynette Rieger Adonis to five years imprisonment or a R20,000 fine on 15 January 2025 for stealing more than R500,000 from the Fort Beaufort Primary School in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape.
How did she steal the R500,000?
According to TimesLIVE, the school's former financial planner oversaw its financial activities, including receiving, recording and banking funds. An investigation was launched after the school discovered that a substantial amount of money had gone missing.
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Adonis failed to deposit the money she received and left some funds unbanked for over two months. The investigation found that she was responsible for the missing money. The court found her guilty of theft and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment or a R20,000 fine.
Similar fraud and theft sentences
- Convicted fraudster Hildegard Steenkamp was sentenced to 50 years in 2023 for stealing over R530 million from her employer.
- Two former ABSA bank employees were found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for defrauding the bank of R1 million.
- Steinhoff's former CFO, Andries La Grange, was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to fraud of R300 million.
SA dissatisfied with the sentence
Netizens commenting on Facebook believed the sentence was too light.
Martin Mlotshwa said:
"Let me get this straight. So the perpetrator stole over R500,000 and is asked to return only R20,000. Tell me where justice is here."
Keynote Royal said:
"Wow, such a lenient punishment with an option of a fine. That's just a slap on the wrist."
Kanye McKay said:
"Surely that person used a portion of that R500K to cover the R20K payment."
Elvis Ace said:
"Just imagine stealing R500,000 and getting a fine of R20,000. Yoh, this country's law is kak."
Mokone L Komane said:
"She must forfeit her pension as well."
6 Arrested for defrauding Eskom of R400 million
In a related article, Briefly News reported that six people have been arrested for allegedly defrauding Eskom of R400 million. The suspects were arrested for tender fraud.
The suspects reportedly submitted falsified financial records to Eskom to secure tenders. They were also accused of fraudulent activities similar to Sasol's.
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Source: Briefly News