Liezel Bandenhorst (44), a former law firm trust accountant appeared before the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes court on July 24, on allegations of fraud amounting to R17 million.
According to Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, Bandenhorst was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on July 24, and she appeared in court on the same day.
Mhlakuvana said it is alleged that during the period between 2018 and 2023, Bandenhorst misappropriated funds from Du Toit Attorneys.
“It is reported that Bandenhorst’s duties in the law firm were to handle the client’s investment fund, trust receipts, and payments,” said Mhlakuvana.
“Subsequently, the business entity managing director picked up discrepancies from the trust bank account, then the matter was referred to the Hawks for probing.”
Mhlakuvana said preliminary investigations divulged that the accused made unauthorized transactions by transferring cash from the practice’s trust bank account to her personal bank account in tranches.
“The investigations by the Hawks futher revealed that the accused allegedly used login details of a senior attorney and made several transactions by transferring money into her bank account,” said Mhlakuvana.
“Consequently, the law firm was prejudiced cash to the value over R17 million. Further allegations also revealed that the accused manipulated the accounting system resulting into the falsification of financial records.”
Mhlakuvana said that Bandenhorst was released on R10 000 bail and the matter was remanded to September 9, for a plea.
