Former Law Firm Accountant Guilty of Multi-Million Rand Fraud

GQEBERHA, EASTERN CAPE – A considerable breach of trust and corporate integrity was spotlighted in Gqeberha's Specialised Commercial Crimes court on September 4, 2024, as Liezel Bandenhorst, a 44-year-old former accountant, faced conviction for a meticulously orchestrated fraud that siphoned off more than R17 million from the prestigious law firm, Du Toit Attorneys.

While employed at the respected Eastern Cape law firm, Bandenhorst was entrusted with managing significant client funds, a position she exploited over a five-year period spanning 2018-2023. Anomalies spotted by the firm's managing director in the trust account prompted an immediate and rigorous examination. Upon referral to the Hawks—South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation—a meticulous inquiry unveiled a pattern of unauthorized financial transfers directly into Bandenhorst's personal account.

Displaying an alarming level of premeditation, Bandenhorst accessed the trust bank account using the credentials of a senior attorney, proceeding to channel the law firm’s monies to her own benefit in multiple instances. This malfeasance was paired with a manipulation of the accounting systems, perpetrating a level of deception that falsified financial records, obscuring her illicit activities.

Bandenhorst’s arrest on July 24, 2024, by the Gqeberha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation arm of the Hawks, facilitated a swift judicial process, culminating in her conviction. On bail, Bandenhorst now waits her sentencing on November 11, 2024, leaving a legal community and observers anticipating the judicial system's response to such a breach of ethical conduct.

In a statement following the conviction, Major General Obed Ngwenya, the Provincial Head of the Hawks, commended the investigative team’s efforts. The thoroughness that led to the unequivocal conviction was hailed as an illustration of the justice system's potential to dissuade white-collar crime and cement public trust.

The legal fraternity remains on edge as the consequences for Bandenhorst's actions are to be conclusively determined later this year. The unprecedented scale of her fraudulent activity ensures the forthcoming sentencing will be observed as a potential benchmark for future cases of similar gravity.