A woman from Boksburg who stole a whopping R500 million from her employer was sentenced to an effective 50 years in prison on Friday.
Hildegard Antoinette Steenkamp,50, who worked as an accountant for a multinational medical equipment supplier Medtronic‚ based in Midrand, stole the money over a five year period.
Spokesperson for the Hawks Colonel Katlego Mogale says she was convicted on 336 charges of fraud by the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrates court.
He says the Hawks investigated Steenkamp for three months until they secured a search-and-seizure warrant on her house.
Colonel Mogale says they attached 11 luxury vehicles, motorcycles and seven immovable properties as well as furniture, appliances and jewellery worth millions of rands.
He says Steenkamp duplicated payments by transferring money directly into her late husband’s bank account.
Steenkamp lived a lavish lifestyle, flaunting her wealth on social media.
Shortly after her arrest last year she was granted bail of R250 000.
After several court appearances, Steenkamp pleaded guilty and will spend her first night in prison.
She will only be eligible for parole in 16 years.
