A former First National Bank employee has been found guilty of theft after she stole R800,000 from a client she frequently helped in the branch.
Leonie Stella Stiemie, 53, was found guilty on two counts of theft in the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Stiemie, a former branch administrator at FNB Kirkwood, was convicted for unlawfully stealing R400,000 from a client’s FNB Deeds Box and R420,000 from the client’s bank account between 2011 and 2015.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the client died during the course of the trial, which was marred by delays.
Explaining the merits of the case, Tyali said the victim, 87-year-old Kirkwood farmer, Andries David Renken, was convinced by Stiemie to store R400,000 in a Deeds Box at FNB.
"Renken had kept the cash, which was paid to him for his farming business operations, at home but found that as being unsafe," Tyali said.
"Trusting Stiemie, who regularly assisted him at the bank, he agreed to store the funds in the FNB Deeds Box. Clients are procedurally given two keys, but Renken never received any keys nor was he asked to sign a custody agreement."
The NPA said in August 2014, Renken enquired about the money, and Stiemie claimed she had invested half of it on his behalf.
In February 2015, when Renken visited the branch, he found out that Stiemie was no longer employed there. When Stiemie heard about the visit, she went to Renken’s home, the NPA said.
"Initially, she claimed that the money had been stolen during a robbery at the branch. However, it was later confirmed that no boxes had been stolen," it said.
"After admitting to taking the money, Stiemie offered to repay it in installments of R666 per month."
The NPA said Renken rejected her offer, citing the number "666" as the "devil's number".
Stiemie only repaid Renken R21,000.
"Further investigation revealed that a deposit slip related to the theft had been forged, with a handwriting analyst for the State confirming that the signature was Stiemie’s, not Renken’s."
The NPA said during the trial, Stiemie denied making arrangements to repay the elderly man, claiming that she had been under heavy medication when she visited the victim’s home.
"The trial was delayed for three years of postponements by the defence to procure a handwriting specialist to counter the State’s version. The prosecutor who initially handled the case also passed on in 2021."
The NPA said the case has been adjourned to February next year for sentencing while Steimie was granted R1,000 bail pending the sentence.
"She is required to report to the Kirkwood [SA Police Service] SAPS twice a week, surrender her travel documents to the NPA, and is prevented from applying for any further travel documents."
IOL News