Cape Town - Attempts to have theft charges withdrawn against a law firm's financial and office manager have failed, the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville, Cape Town, heard on Friday.
Hendrik Lehmann, 33, of Kraaifontein in Cape Town, made his third appearance before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.
Prosecutor Gertrude Magopeni alleges that Lehmann stole trust funds amounting to R239 599 while working as the financial and office manager with the firm Michael Matthews and Associates between January and June, 2011.
His duties included the administration of the firm's trust and practice accounts, and the petty cash.
He also had to prepare month-end bank reconciliations, and reconcile trust creditors with trust cash books and balances.
It is alleged that he failed to do the monthly bank reconciliations, and also 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.
The State alleges that on two counts he kept for himself two payments totalling R4684, instead of paying them into the trust account.
Lehmann was warned to appear again on August 15.
Sapa