Four bookkeepers have each received hefty sentences that include biding orders to repay Bloemfontein-based Mellins i-Style Optometrists monies worth R2.7 million they siphoned from the group. The imprisonment sentences range from four years to eight years, suspended for five years.
The accused, Maria Fatima Botes (45); Ann Catherina Smit (69); Susanna Aletta Liebenberg (42); and Chantelle Matthews (43), were sentenced by the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 6 October.
They were found guilty on charges of theft and money laundering to siphon the optometrists’ group approximately R2.7 million.
Their conviction and sentencing are the culmination of the investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Bloemfontein. Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks, said the optometry entity discovered their crime upon conducting internal investigations.
“The Absa fraud department notified the complainant as they identified suspicious transactions from Mellins i-Style Optometrists’ business accounts,” said Singo. He said an in-depth probing revealed the accused illegally transferred the funds from the group’s business account between the period November 2015 and February 2019.
Singo confirmed that George Botes (45), the fifth suspect, was acquitted of all charges the four bookkeepers were found guilty of.
Repayment orders are as follow: Fatima Botes R854 490.81, Smith R93 971.12, Liebenberg R681 036.61, and Matthews R1 065 514.37.
Singo said the court ordered them to repay the group with the period of five years.
Fatima Botes received eight years’ direct imprisonment for theft and four years for money laundering. Smit got three years’ direct imprisonment for theft and two years direct imprisonment for money laundering. Liebenberg received eight years’ direct imprisonment for theft and four years direct imprisonment for money laundering, and Matthews received eight years’ direct imprisonment for theft and four years’ direct imprisonment for money laundering.
Singo said the convicted accused were contracted by the consulting firm to perform required duties on the optometrists’ book at the time the fraud was committed.
