National news:
A 29-year-old woman, Adele van der Hyde appeared briefly in the Piet Retief magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of theft and fraud after being arrested by the Hawks Commercial Crimes Investigation Unit in Middelburg on Tuesday.
Hawks spokesperson, Capt Dineo Sekgotodi said van der Hyde, who was employed as a financial manager of Pick n Pay’s Piet Retief branch, faces charges of theft and embezzlement after stealing more than R800 000 from her former employer.
The crimes were committed over periods of months from as early as 2013.
It was discovered that van der Hyde, who at the time was in charge of the store’s financial matters allegedly banked shortfalls of cash on a regular basis and pocketed the excess.
Capt Sekgotodi said investigations had revealed shortfalls of up to R10 000 at a time when deposits were made by van der Hyde.
The case was remanded to July 20 and van der Hyde was released on her own recognizance as she was not considered a flight risk.
Advocate Paul Louw, attached to the SCCU in Pretoria appeared for the state
