BUSINESS EMPLOYEE FOUND GUILTY OF 75 FRAUD CHARGES

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By: Neo Ntsele

Jacolene Hendricks (45) was sentenced by the Kroonstad Magistrates Court on 12 March 2026 after being found guilty of 75 counts of fraud.

The conviction arose from an internal investigation into the financial dealings of the Hansie Muller Besigheidstrust in Viljoenskroon.

This followed reports from some business clients who claimed the accused had instructed them to deposit payments for goods into a different bank account.

A case docket was opened and later transferred to the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Welkom for further inquiry, which uncovered that the accused had directed creditors to deposit money owed to the business into her personal bank account. She also inflated prices and, after receiving payments, kept the excess amount while transferring the remainder to the business account.

As a result, the complainant experienced actual financial loss amounting to approximately R800,000.

On 08 August 2024, Hendricks was issued a summons to appear before the Kroonstad Magistrates Court on 29 August 2025.

On 12 March 2026, the court found Hendricks guilty on 75 counts of fraud and sentenced her to eight years' imprisonment under Section 276(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, fully suspended for five years, provided she is not convicted of fraud, forgery, uttering, theft, or attempted commission of these offenses during the suspension period.

The court also ordered her to repay R10,000 per month for 60 consecutive months until the amount of R600,000 is fully paid into the complainant’s account.

Hendricks was not declared unfit to possess a firearm under Section 103(1) of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.