The Witbank Regional Court has ordered Lida Potgieter (62) to serve a six year direct imprisonment for 737 counts of fraud after her appeal bid failed.
Potgieter was send to jail on July 13.
The case emanates from when she was an elected treasurer of Emalahleni Local Municipality’s sports club, wherein she stole almost R4 million between 2004 and 2009.
These funds were generated from member fees deducted from staff salaries.
Potgieter then established an in-house lending 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 to the judgement and was released on R10 000 bail with conditions pending the outcome.
A warrant for her arrest was issued and she was rearrested and her bail forfeited.
