Crime: Law firm officer faces theft case

Attempts to have theft charges withdrawn against a law firm’s financial and office manager had failed, the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville, Cape Town, heard on Friday. The State alleges that Hendrik Lehmann of Kraaifontein stole trust funds worth R239 599 while working at Michael Matthews and Associates between January and June 2011. It is alleged that he failed to do the monthly bank reconciliations, and failed to reconcile trust creditors with trust cash book balances. It is also alleged that he channelled trust money meant for clients into his own bank account. Lehmann will appear in court on August 15. – Sapa