The Walter Sisulu University (WSU) student who made national headlines after R14 million was erroneously deposited into her bank account was granted leave to appeal her sentence in the East London Regional Court on Friday.
Thirty-one-year-old Sibongile Mani was, however, denied leave to appeal her conviction.
Mani stole more than R800 000 and remains a convicted thief after she was found guilty on 10 charges of theft.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier sentenced her to serve five years imprisonment, subject to the provisions of Section 276 (1) i. of the Criminal Procedure Act.
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Luxolo Tyali says that effectively means that Mani would only have to serve one-sixth of the sentence.
In essence, Mani could have been free by December while serving the remainder of her sentence outside, by conditions the Commissioner of Correctional Services may have deemed fit.
Tyali says the court found that the state proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and no other court could arrive at a different verdict.
According to Magistrate Olivier, Mani knew that her actions were unlawful and therefore had the intent to commit theft.
Mani's defence attorney, Asanda Pakade says they are ready to take the matter to the High Court in Makhanda including petitioning her conviction.
The NPA's Tyali told Algoa FM News that it has happened before that an offender will petition the High Court only to get their sentence increased if the Judge feels it to be too lenient.
