2008/02/01
Woman who stole R0.5m from school to be sentenced today
SENTENCING of a self-confessed gambling addict who was convicted of stealing more than R500000 from Selborne College was postponed yesterday in the East London Regional Court.
The elite school’s former book-keeper will this morning know whether she will spend a few years behind bars or be shown mercy and get correctional supervision as punishment for the theft of about R567883.
Yesterday, lawyer Henry van Breda made an impassioned plea to Regional Court magistrate Ignatius Kitching not to send his client, Cheryl van Zyl, to jail for her unscrupulous thieving, dating back to 2002.
In mitigation of sentence, Van Breda argued at length that Van Zyl, 43, should be spared the harsh sentence of imprisonment, saying there were several factors which allowed the courts to deviate from the prescribed sentences.
In September last year, Van Zyl pleaded guilty to “willingly and freely” stealing a substantial amount from Selborne College’s coffers over a period of four years.
Van Zyl admitted pocketing R75681 between January and December 2002, R119124 in January and December 2003, R249229 in 2004 and R123847 between January and May 2005.
As the school’s book-keeper, she was responsible for receiving money on behalf of the school, issuing receipts and banking.
She admitted withholding some money to feed her gambling addiction.
Van Breda admitted his client was guilty of a “very serious offence”, but said she had already paid for her sins and that direct imprisonment would be inappropriate.
“She has already been punished. If she is sent to jail she will be punished for the third or fourth time,” said Van Breda.
He said Van Zyl had lost her house to compensate for part of the amount stolen and had fully co-operated with the police and court authorities during investigations.
“From day one she indicated that she would co-operate ... and never denied any wrongdoing,” said Van Breda, while Van Zyl was sitting upright in the dock.
In her plea explanation last year, Van Zyl said she had used all the money she stole to feed her gambling addiction.
“I went to the casino and gambled with the money with the hope that I would win the so-called jackpot. The more money I lost at the gambling slots, the more nervous I became,” she said.
Van Breda pleaded for the “innovative sentence” of three years’ correctional supervision, coupled with a five-year wholly suspended sentence, including 16 hours community service a month.
Van Zyl, who is currently employed as an administrative manager, also promised about R4000 a month to repay the amount stolen.
In arguing for a five-year jail term, state prosecutor Elma Smith said such a lesser sentence would send out the wrong message to “white collar” criminals.
“She was in a trusting position and stole from the hand that fed her ... She should have thought about her family when she stole from the school on a daily basis,” said Smith.
Sentencing is expected to be passed this morning. - By CHANDRÉ PRINCE
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