A former law firm trust accountant has been found guilty of fraud amounting to R17 million.
Liezel Badenhorst was convicted this week in the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Badenhorst, 44, was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (known as the Hawks) on July 24, 2024.
She appeared in court on the same day and was released on bail of R10,000.
Eastern Cape spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said during the period between 2018 and 2023, the accused misappropriated funds from Du Toit Attorneys.
“During the time, Badenhorst’s duties in the law firm was to handle various clients’ investment funds, trust receipts and payments.
“Subsequently, the business entity managing director picked up discrepancies from the trust bank account and the matter was referred to the Hawks for probing.”
Mhlakuvana said preliminary investigations divulged that the accused made unauthorised transactions by transferring cash from the practice’s trust bank account to her personal bank account in tranches.
“The investigations by the Hawks further revealed that the accused used login details of a senior attorney and made several transactions by transferring money into her bank account.”
The Hawks said the law firm was prejudiced cash to the value over R17 million.
The Hawks said Badenhorst further manipulated the accounting system of the law firm which resulted in falsification of financial records.
Sentencing is expected to take place on November 11, 2024.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Obed Ngwenya applauded the investigating team for securing the conviction.
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