Local News
Lianné Greyling sentencing postponed to Monday─── 05:44 Thu, 23 Jul 2015
Bloemfontein - Sentencing procedures in the case of Bloemfontein fraudster, Lianné Greyling, were postponed to Monday July 27 in the city's Regional Court on Wednesday, after the social worker who was busy reading her report in court, had to urgently leave.
In the report, she suggested long term imprisonment as an appropriate punishment, saying Greyling had not shown remorse for her crimes. She added that Greyling justified her actions by citing childhood traumas, including witnessing the death of her primary caregiver, her grandmother, at age 10, and having to become a breadwinner at a young age.
The report further explained that Greyling’s delinquent behaviour, particularly stealing, started at age 11, and was never taken seriously enough to bring in professional help.
A report from correctional services was also heard in court on Wednesday. It recommended house detention as a more fitting punishment, with Greyling being put under correctional supervision and doing community service. The recommendation was based on a number of reasons, including the fact that she has young children - aged 6, 4 and 3 - who need her support. The report further recommended that Greyling participate in correctional programmes such as victim/perpetrator mediation.
Greyling in turn testified that she was not afraid to go to jail and hoped to leave jail as a better person.
She testified how she had used drugs daily from 2006 to 2008 until she fell pregnant with the first of her three daughters.
Her mother also had a criminal record of theft and fraud, and abused drugs and alcohol.
Sellwane Khakhau/OFM News
