Anele Mqhathu, a manager at a garage in Tsolo in Eastern Cape, has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for theft of more than R774 000 from her employer.
The lengthy sentence was handed down by the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Court on Tuesday.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mqhathu was a manager at Engen filling station between February and November 2021.
She reportedly took money from cashiers under false pretense that she was going to bank it, but instead gave it to friends to deposit into her bank account.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the owner of the filling station picked up irregularities and hired an accountant to investigate.
“When Mqhathu was confronted about the allegations, she could not provide satisfactory answers and even admitted to the crime on a cellphone recording,” said Tyali.
“However, after her arrest and during trial, she changed her tune and pleaded not guilty.”
Senior state advocate Mthuthuzeli Rangula led evidence of the owner of the business, two cashiers, the accountant and investigating officers from the directorate of priority crimes investigation Constable Njabulo Nzimande and Captain Xolile Mdolomba.
Under cross-examination, Mqhathu contradicted herself and made some admissions.
Rangula argued that by changing bank accounts and putting hers and her friends’, Mqhathu was concealing or disguising the nature, source, location, disposition or movement of funds.
The prosecutor prayed for the court to impose a minimum sentence of 15 years, which is effective when the value of the stolen amount is over R500 000, and the court agreed.
The NPA’s asset forfeiture unit has made an application for the confiscation of a house that Mqhathu built with the money stolen from the filling station.
As part of restorative justice, the house will be auctioned and the money paid back to the owner of the business.
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