Financial manager gets six years for R950 000 fraud

A woman was sentenced to six years of direct imprisonment this week for defrauding a company that sells water pumps in Montana in the north of Pretoria of more than R950 000.

Samantha Michelle Taggart (38) was sentenced for 17 counts of fraud by the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court on Wednesday.

She was employed as a financial manager at the company from October 2016 until October 2017 when she resigned, according to Gauteng NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.

“Her duties included receiving all electronic and cash payments for the company, making cash and electronic payments to suppliers as well as making Pay As You Earn (Paye) and VAT payments to SARS,” Mahanjana said.

However, instead of making those payments, for a period of six months from February to July 2017, Taggert transferred money meant for suppliers and SARS to her personal bank account.

This was discovered when a supplier enquired about their payment and Taggert was questioned by the company director.

“After being questioned, Taggert resigned from her job,” Mahanjana said.

“When the director went to Taggert’s house to further enquire about the missing money, she returned R120 000 that was still in the company money seal bag.”

Mahanjana said a few weeks later, her father paid back R500 000 to the company.

“In court, she pleaded guilty to all the charges and asked the court to impose a non-custodial sentence because she was remorseful and paid back some of the money.”

The state, however, argued that Taggert only pleaded guilty because it had overwhelming evidence against her.

Prosecutor advocate Malisela Abram Machitela told the court that Taggert was in a position of trust, but she chose to betray that trust.

As a result, the company suffered as some of its employees had to be retrenched.

“Taggert only committed the offences because of greed,” he added.

Therefore, he asked the court to impose a sentence of direct imprisonment.

During the sentencing, Magistrate Ignatius de Preez agreed with the state that Taggert was not remorseful – she didn’t stop her thievery out of guilt, but because she was caught.

“Taggert only pleaded guilty because she did not have a defence for the charges.”

Therefore, the court found that the offences of which Taggert stood convicted were too serious for the imposition of a fine.

“Thus, a sentence of direct imprisonment was the only appropriate punishment that fits the crime.”

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