PLEADING guilty to 26 counts of theft, former Richards Bay church treasurer David Veersamy Naidoo (47) was on Tuesday sentenced in the Richards Bay Magistrates Court to a fine of R15 000 or 12 months imprisonment.
Naidoo was charged in September 2016 after defrauding church congregation members who had paid for a trip to Israel.
He was the treasurer at Living Stones Baptist Church in Brackenham at the time and organised the proposed trip but failed to refund the members when it did not materialise.
The multiple counts were treated as one for sentencing purposes and he was also sentenced to two years imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of five years on condition he is not convicted of theft or attempted theft during the period of suspension.
He also has to reimburse 21 of the complainants and the total amount of R476 100 must be paid to the clerk of court in 48 equal installments of R10 000 per month.
The first payment is due by 7 December and payments will continue every month until the amount is settled in full.
ALSO READ: Richards Bay church treasurer pleads guilty to fraud charges
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