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A Gqeberha accountant who allegedly defrauded her previous employer out of more than R18 m stood in the dock in the city's Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday.
Liezel Badenhorst, 44, was arrested at her family home in Lorraine early on Wednesday morning and charged with one count of fraud.
The State alleges that she stole the money from the Trust account of Du Toit Attorneys Inc (DTS) between February 2018 and March 2023.
The accused started working at DTS in 2008.
She was tasked with accounting functions, specifically managing client investments, thereby holding operator rights to the DTS Trust and Business bank accounts.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly manipulated the books by falsifying financial records.
It is alleged that she created the false impression that the accounting records were accurately maintained.
The accused is said to have substituted the banking details of DTS clients with her banking details, for her own benefit.
Badenhorst's attorney, Advocate Hannelie Bakker read out an affidavit into the record in support of her client's release on bail.
In her affidavit, Badenhorst says she is divorced, unemployed, has no dependents, and lives with her parents.
She holds a B.Com.Degree from the University of Port Elizabeth and has no pending cases or previous convictions.
"I have embezzled the money to feed my gambling addiction at both the Boardwalk Casino and the Galaxy Bingo at Moffett on Main.
"I have been clinically diagnosed with a severe gambling disorder (F63) as stipulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSAM-V)," Badenhorst says in her affidavit.
In a bid to treat her addiction, Badenhorst has consulted with a specialist psychiatrist, and a clinical psychologist and she is currently under treatment.
According to the affidavit, Badenhorst started gambling in February 2010.
By 2014 she began borrowing money from the DTS Trust Account and would replenish the account after every big win.
"Despite imposing a ban on myself on several occasions at both the Boardwalk and Galaxy, I inevitably would unblock myself and return to my gambling habits.
"This procedure involved me having to undergo counseling sessions with the psychologist, Ms Kim Castle, appointed by the Gambling Board, on three occasions."
By 2018, the amounts taken from the trust account had escalated.
"I was unable to control, cut down, or stop my gambling, especially after my divorce in December 2020.
"I was continually chasing losses after losing the money during gambling, but still managed to conceal the extent of my involvement in gambling from my family and the complainant."
The affidavit states that Badenhorst has given her full cooperation to police from the onset of the investigation.
It further notes how Badenhorst had R750 000 in winnings in a Capitec account, which was given to the complainant, in addition to a VW T-Roc worth approximately R500 000 that she had won during a lucky draw at the Boardwalk Casino.
DTS Director Rian du Toit told Algoa FM News that he was not at liberty to discuss the matter as it is still sub judice.
He did however confirm that he laid charges against Badenhorst.
"Upon discovery of the shortfall, we informed the Legal Practice Council and our auditor and a full audit was done to establish the extent of the loss.
"All the misappropriated funds were repaid by the Du Toit family to the legal practice without any monetary loss to any of the firm's clients.
"An unqualified audit report was signed off by the LPC. Extensive measures have been put in place to prevent the possibility of any such future incidents," he said.
Badenhorst was granted bail of R10 000.
She intends to plead guilty and will appear in court again on 4 September.
