BETHLEHEM – A former Department of Justice and Constitutional Development employee has been sentenced to eight years direct imprisonment after failing to comply with the conditions of her suspended sentence.

The Bethlehem Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday sentenced Nthabiseng Adeline Motaung (48), a former administration clerk at the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court, for contempt of court.

Motaung defrauded the department of about R135 000 between May 2018 and February 2019 by unlawfully transferring funds into her personal bank account and that of a co-accused. She was responsible for third party funds at the court.

The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit in Bloemfontein arrested her following an investigation. She appeared in court on 27 October 2023, where she pleaded guilty to 40 counts of fraud and nine counts of money laundering.

The court initially sentenced her to eight years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that she repay the stolen money in monthly instalments and comply with other court conditions.

After she failed to honour the repayment condition, the court found her guilty of contempt of court and ordered the suspended sentence be enforced.

Free State head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, welcomed the enforcement.

“It is important for those given prescribed leniency to honour the conditions set out by the court. This case is proof that a suspended sentence is not to be taken lightly,” Bokaba said.

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