Former Tonga bank administrator sentenced for theft

Dorcus Nyambi (37) was found guilty and sentenced by the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Monday May 13 for theft, contravening Section 21 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, and contravening Section 4 read with Section 1 and 8 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998.

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According to the Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, Nyambi was arrested by the Nelspruit Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit for some theft in 2014. “Nyambi was employed as a bank administrator at Standard Bank in Tonga. She activated a dormant bank account of a deceased and linked it to other bank accounts of some beneficiaries.

She transferred various amounts of money into these linked accounts, misrepresenting and prejudicing Standard Bank of an actual loss to the amount of R940 000. The case was opened by the Tonga police and later transferred to the Hawks for further investigation,” she said.

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With the investigation finalised, the accused was sentenced as follows:
• Count 1 to 14: Theft – Eight years’ imprisonment, of which half is suspended for five years on condition that the accused is not convicted of theft or attempted theft committed during suspension.
• Count 16: Contravening of Section 4, read with Section 1 and 8 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (Poca) – Three years’ imprisonment, which will run concurrently together with the four years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine.

The accused will serve four years’ direct imprisonment.