KATHU – A former employee of Nashua Kathu was sentenced to six years and six months’ direct imprisonment for fraud and money laundering.

The 30-year-old Amy Melissa van Heerden was sentenced by the Kathu Magistrates’ Court on Friday 25 September. Van Heerden was arrested in February this year by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team. The arrest followed an intensive investigation.

Van Heerden was later released on R10 000 bail, said Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi, spokesperson for the Hawks.

The accused, whilst an employee of Nashua Kathu, changed her employer’s banking details without authorisation to her personal bank account. Her action caused Nashua to suffer a loss of over R1 million as business clients deposited funds due to the business into her account.

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Van Heerden was sentenced as follows: For fraud, she was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, of which two years are suspended for a period of five years. For money laundering, she was sentenced to two years’ direct imprisonment. Furthermore, she was found guilty of theft and sentenced to six months’ direct imprisonment. Van Heerden will ultimately serve six years and six months’ direct imprisonment.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Northern Cape, Major General Stephen Mabuela, applauded both the investigating and prosecuting teams for their resilience in fighting crime and bringing the perpetrators thereof to justice.