Former credit controller employed by AHS Group of Companies, Antoinette Wright, was convicted on 983 charges of fraud and money laundering, and handed an effective 10-year prison sentence last week, reports Zululand Observer.

The case, which was opened in Empangeni in 2017, follows an extensive financial investigation linked to over R7.7m siphoned from company accounts.

The court found that Wright, who was employed by the company since 2009, used her position to fraudulently divert funds from subsidiary accounts to her own personal accounts, as well as those of family members.

The group of companies operates several business entities, including abattoirs, property management and liquor wholesale operations.

Wright’s duties included overseeing outstanding debtors, processing creditor payments, maintaining cash books, compiling staff deduction schedules and managing rent rolls.

It was established that, between March 2012 and February 2017, Wright loaded numerous fraudulent transactions onto the Absa Integrator banking system under the guise of legitimate creditor payments.

Instead of funds being paid to company creditors, the money was allegedly transferred into bank accounts linked to Wright and others.

Sentencing

Counts 1 to 359 of fraud: All counts taken as one for the purpose of sentencing, and the accused was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

Counts 360 to 983 of money laundering: 10 years’ imprisonment. All counts to run concurrently.

She was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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