A chance meeting at church that led to his employment, the stolen proceeds of a payout after a Cancer diagnosis, an attempted suicide, and a severely indebted family whose trust has been betrayed.
These were just some of the details that emerged in the commercial crimes court in Gqeberha, during the pre-sentencing procedures of Harold Henry, who stole R14.4 million from a couple in Kirkwood.
The stolen money belonged to Suenay and Digby White of the Strathmore Farm Trust, who have had to come to terms with the fact that they won't be able to recoup a single cent of their money.
Suenay, 39, who testified in mitigation of sentence on Thursday, broke down in tears as she detailed the history between Henry and her family.
Digby, 59, and the couple's farm workers who were seated in the public gallery, wept bitterly during her testimony.
The court heard that Suenay had previously done the farm's books, but stopped when she moved to Makandha to be closer to her children's schools.
The couple decided to employ Henry, whom they met in church, to take over her tasks.
Henry was described as a diligent worker who quickly became part of their family. He was like a brother to the couple's two sons.
She said they had no idea that they were being swindled until an auditor queried various payments, and requested a meeting on 8 December 2021.
According to Suenay, she noticed that Henry did not seem like himself on that day.
She detailed how she received a disturbing phone call from him thanking her and the family for everything that they've done for him.
He also repeatedly told her that he was sorry.
"My immediate thoughts were that he was going to harm himself. Whilst running in the direction of the shed which was close to his office, I called my husband to inform him of my suspicion.
"By the time we got to him, he had drank poison. We immediately rushed him to the hospital.
"From that moment onward, our whole world was turned upside down."
When asked how the theft impacted their lives, Suenay told the court they now owed millions in debt, had to rely on her brother for financial support, their health took a knock, their children suffered emotionally, and it had a ripple effect on their farmworkers and their families.
"The worst part of it all is that my husband was diagnosed with Cancer. We had a policy that paid out for this, but Harold took that money too.
"He did not just steal R14 million. He stole the legacy we tried to build for our kids.
"He left us with nothing and we won't be able to recoup anything. We have to start from scratch. We trusted him," she said.
Suenay pleaded with the court to hand down the maximum prescribed sentence.
Henry's legal representative, Anlen Murray asked the court for a postponement to get a psychological report in respect of her client.
The case was postponed to 11 December.
