A cashier (44) is expected to appear in the Kimberley Specialised Crime Court on Thursday (8/8) for sentencing after she was found guilty of hundreds of counts of fraud and money laundering.

Latiefa de Saldahna was found guilty on 248 counts of fraud and 245 counts of money laundering on Monday (6/8).

De Saldahna worked as a cashier at a Kimberley retail company between December 2017 and July 2018.

‘The employer suffered a financial loss of R220,344.35’

“The accused … unlawfully and intentionally stole funds from the employer by purporting to have discounted goods and services purchased by entities and individuals,” said Northern Cape Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi.

“An internal investigation was conducted and the case was later referred to the Hawks for further investigations.

The employer suffered a financial loss of R220,344.35. The Hawks investigation team arrested De Saldahna on Saturday 17 February last year.

The Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (POCA) prohibits two main money-laundering offences, which are general money laundering offences involving the proceeds of any unlawful conduct; and offences involving proceeds from a pattern of racketeering activity.

‘A person committing money laundering does this with a clear knowledge’

Herbert Smith Freehills states that a person committing money laundering does this with a clear knowledge and engages in any transaction, agreement, arrangement, or other action related to said property that has the potential to:

• conceal or disguise the characteristics, origin, location, disposition, or movement of the property in question, the ownership of it, or any interest that may be in relation to it; and

• to enable or assist any person who has committed or is likely to commit an offence, whether in South Africa or elsewhere to evade legal action.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg