Municipal employee convicted for defrauding colleagues of R4 million
The funds were generated from membership fees deducted from staff salaries.
EMALAHLENI – The Emalahleni Regional Court ordered Lida Potgieter to serve six-year direct imprisonment for 737 counts of fraud after her bid to appeal failed on Tuesday.
Potgieter was a manager at the Emalahleni Local Municipality and was elected treasurer of the municipality’s Sports Club. She then stole almost R4 million between 2004 and 2009 in July. According to the Hawks, the funds were generated from membership fees deducted from staff salaries. Potgieter then established an in-house loaning scheme which employees invested in, hoping for increased earnings.
“The scheme collapsed and the matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit for investigation which resulted in Potgieter’s conviction on February 18, 2015. She appealed the judgement and was released on R10 000 bail with conditions pending the outcome,” said the Hawks. A warrant for her arrest was issued and was rearrested and her bail forfeited.
