Former AgriCAD manager gets 12 years in jail for fraud
The manager was accused of using the stolen R16-million to buy solar panels for her home, a vehicle for her son-in-law and family vacations.
The Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court sentenced a former AgriCAD finance and administration manager to 12 years in jail for the fraud and theft of R16-million.
According to the NPA, Lizette Marielle Steyn (56), sentenced on Friday, April 5 was employed by AgriCAD from February 12, 2019, as finance and administration manager.
AgriCAD a company that manufactures agricultural implements
NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Steyn was responsible for, among others, loading the creditors onto the business bank account monthly for payment and day-to-day bookkeeping and accounting.
She had full access to the AgriCAD ABSA bank accounts, said Mahanjana.
“During her employment, Steyn would change the details of one of the AgriCAD ABSA bank accounts and replace it with her six different personal Capitec accounts.”
Mahanjana said 85 different payments totalling more than R16-million from October 2020 to May last year, were made to Steyn instead.
“With the funds, Steyn installed solar panels in her house and bought luxury items, a caravan, and a vehicle for her son-in-law. She also paid for her daughter’s wedding and her family’s weekends away and holidays.”
Mahanjana said Steyn was arrested on July 18, 2023, and has been in custody since.
She said Steyn pleaded guilty to the charges and said she stole the money to pay debts after her husband lost his job.
Mahanjana said Steyn further asked the court to consider her ill health and that she is a first-time offender when imposing a sentence.
“However, prosecutor Advocate Rachelle van der Walt argued that as much as Steyn was a first-time offender, her offences were committed over three years.”
Mahanjana said furthermore that Steyn was in a position of trust, which she betrayed and hid her dishonest conduct.
“She opened Capitec accounts in her name, which she used to receive the stolen money for luxurious items and extravagant lifestyles. Therefore, Van der Walt asked the court to consider long-term imprisonment when imposing the sentence.”
Magistrate Ignatius du Preez said Steyn had pleaded guilty because she had no option.
“Her change of heart and acknowledgement of her criminal conduct originated from being caught and not from her true inner feelings of regret. Therefore, she had no choice but to concede defeat.”
Steyn committed the offence at an age she was expected to be able to distinguish right from wrong, but she failed dismally.
“Courts are increasingly faced with the situation where offenders with medical challenges commit serious offences, as such illness cannot be used as a licence to commit crime,” said Du Preez.
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