A woman who fraudulently obtained R20,000 worth of liquor while employed in the Western Cape premier's office was sentenced to two years' house arrest on Wednesday.
Nathali B Jacobs, 24, appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court before magistrate Amrith Chabillal, in plea-bargain proceedings.
According to the plea-bargain agreement, Jacobs was an administrative assistant in the premier's social transformation programme (STP) and was responsible for procurement in respect of conferences relating to the programme.
Her duties included the processing and verification of payments to service providers.
According to the charge sheet, she arranged a conference at the St George Hotel in the Cape Town at a cost of R110,000.
However, fewer people than expected attended the conference, which resulted in an overpayment to the hotel of R20,278.
At her request, the hotel supplied her with liquor to the value of the overpayment, instead of crediting the STP bank account.
Prosecutor Derek Vogel told the court that Jacobs was unable to repay the money, and that she had abused her position of trust in the premier's office.
Legal aid attorney Haley Lawrence said Jacobs was under psychiatric treatment for severe depression.
Jacobs was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for five years on condition that she submit herself to two years' house arrest. - Sapa