Sentencing proceedings in the case of a 24-year-old woman convicted of fraud amounting to over R6.6 million got underway at the Port Elizabeth Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.
An-Nei Stumke, a former administrator at the Nuwelande Agri PTY (LTD) in Patensie previously pleaded guilty to 71 counts of fraud committed over three years between 2016 and January 2019.
The citrus farm's Director, Solomon Ferreira and his wife Vera took to the stand in aggravation of sentence.
They told the court how they considered Stumke a part of their "business" family, adding that Solomon was even asked to make a speech at her husband's birthday party and how his father was asked to say a prayer at the wedding of the Stumke couple.
The court also heard how the business suffered tremendous financial stress which stunted its growth as a result of the theft.
Solomon also told the court how he suffered psychologically with trusting people especially with new employees coming in.
Stumke who was supported at court by her husband was responsible for making payments to creditors and employees of the company, but instead populated the company's system with her FNB bank account.
The case was postponed until Thursday when her defence attorney, Alwyn Griebenouw will decide on whether or not he will call witnesses in mitigation of sentence.
Stumke is currently out on bail.
