A Gqeberha accountant and her former employer from whom she stole R18m were both in tears in the specialised commercial crimes court on Monday, when pre-sentencing procedures got underway.
Liezel Badenhorst, 44, stole the money from the trust account of Du Toit Attorneys Inc. (DTS) between February 2018 and March 2023 to feed her severe gambling addiction.
Also read: Bay accountant in court for alleged theft of more than R18m
In September, she pleaded guilty to one count of theft.
Badenhorst started working at DTS in 2008 and was tasked with accounting functions, specifically managing client investments, thereby holding operator rights to the DTS Trust and Business bank accounts.
She manipulated the books by falsifying financial records and created the false impression that the accounting records were accurately maintained.
At the time that the theft was discovered, Badenhorst was three weeks shy of celebrating 15 years of employment with the company.
While testifying in mitigation of sentence, Badenhorst burst into tears as she read an apology letter that she had written to Andrika and Rian du Toit.
She told her former employers that she felt guilty and ashamed and apologised for the harm that her betrayal had caused.
According to Badenhorst, the du Toit's had shown her nothing but kindness and support during her time as a tenured employee.
"You treated me like family and to have hurt you in such a way is an insult. I hate myself for what I have done."
Badenhorst further said that she did not simply wake up one day and decide to be a gambling addict and destroy her life.
The court heard that no matter how hard Badenhorst tried, according to her, her addiction would always win.
A clinical psychologist who evaluated Badenhorst on request of the defence, Dr Estelle Le Roux said she was at risk of committing suicide should she be incarcerated.
Le Roux said at times Badenhorst appeared remorseful, but she also stated that the company should have had better checks and balances in place to prevent the theft.
Andrika testified that Badenhorst was like a sister to her and that both she and her husband valued her "honesty".
Before the theft was discovered, the couple had decided to reward Badenhorst with a R10 000 gift from Maurice Levine Jewellers as a way of thanking her for 15 years of loyal employment.
"Everyone trusted her."
Also read: Gambling addict who stole millions in Bay found guilty
The court heard how the couple scrambled to raise the R15m shortfall in their trust account, all while fearing that theft could destroy their business.
By the end of August, they managed to replace every last cent that had been stolen.
Andrika says they managed this feat by "God's grace."
Despite the betrayal, Andrika does not want to see Badenhorst go to prison.
"Just this morning I prayed for her. If only she had come to us for help.
"In my heart, I don't want her to go to jail, because I do not think that she will survive it.
"It has been very hard on us, but I will forgive her so that I do not go through life with bitterness," she said.
Badenhorst will be sentenced on Tuesday.
