A 54-year-old financial clerk briefly appeared before the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court yesterday following her arrest for allegedly embezzling R1.5m from her employer.

Bessie Pretorius was arrested after a case of fraud was opened by her employer.

Provinical Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke said Pretorius was employed by the Thabazimbi Christian School and her main responsibility was to manage the school’s finances.

“Instead of truthfully managing the school’s finances, the suspect allegedly stole some of the school’s money by transferring it into her personal bank account on numerous occasions. The school management became suspicious and an audit was conducted,” his statement read.

Maluleke said the audit report revealed the fraudulent activities and the case was transferred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Polokwane for further investigation.

“After a thorough and meticulous investigation, a warrant of arrest was authorised against the accused and it was successfully executed,” he said.

Pretorius was granted R7 000 bail and her case was postponed to July 18.