A former VWSA fleet administrator who defrauded the company of R12 million will have to wait a while longer to learn his fate.
This comes as the sentencing procedures of Christo de Jager, 61, was postponed for a second time in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court De Jager, 61, has been convicted on 595 counts of fraud, committed between November 2014 and March 2021.
De Jager used his position to hatch a scheme with an employee at body repair company Autotrust to do work for VWSA.
He was then paid monthly for generating fraudulent invoices.
While addressing the court on De Jager's personal circumstances, Advocate Anlen Jarman said he is a first offender.
According to Jarman, her client was born with a physical disability and he has been diagnosed with chronic osteoporosis.
She told the court that he was genuinely remorseful and tried to sever the corrupt relationship with Autrotrust several times, but he was threatened with exposure.
He confessed to his employer when he heard that an audit would be conducted in his department.
Jarman further said she thinks that De Jager would be a suitable candidate for a sentence of correctional supervision as opposed to one of direct imprisonment.
State Prosecutor Advocate Siphamandla Ngxokolo said De Jager was in a position of trust with his employer and that he abused his authority.
He said even though De Jager reported the crime to his employer eventually, it had continued unabated for seven years.
Ngxokolo said he was mindful of the fact that De Jager is a senior citizen and that he pleaded guilty.
"Pleading guilty is not always a sign of remorse
"When your back is against the wall, what are you going to do?," he asked.
After listening to the arguments by both the defence and the state, and the fact that he was handed a voluminous probation officer's report, Magistrate Lionel Lindoor said he needed time to first apply his mind to hand down a suitable sentence.
De Jager will be sentenced on 15 July.
Also read: Sentencing of former VWSA employee explained
