A former Bank employee in Swartruggens in North West was sentenced to eight years in prison on Tuesday after she stole money from an unsuspecting lotto winner.
The 29-year-old Nonhlanhla Matinyane was sentenced on three counts of fraud and seven of money laundering after she transferred an amount of R536 000.00 to three bank accounts belonging to family members as well as one unsuspecting account holder.
Spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh says the Bank's investigating team noticed huge transfers from the victim's account and made contact with the 49-year-old woman.
She says the victim had no idea that her money was disappearing from her account because Matinyane had blocked her phone to get notifications.
An investigation soon led authorities to Matinyane who was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering.
She pleaded guilty to all the charges against her and was sentenced to five years imprisonment for fraud and three years for money laundering, wholly suspended for five years.
Colonel Myburgh said the Court also ordered Matinyane to pay back an amount of R17 500.00 that the Bank could not retrieve.
