Financial manager sentenced to six years for R950k fraud

A former financial manager at a water pump company in Montana, Pretoria, was sentenced to six years in jail for defrauding the company of over R950 000. Samantha Michelle Taggart, who worked at the company from October 2016 to October 2017, was found guilty of 17 counts of fraud by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court as reported by Pretoria Rekord.

During her employment, Taggart transferred money meant for suppliers and SARS to her personal bank account instead of making payments for a period of six months, from February to July 2017.

Taggart resigned after being questioned by the company director, and her father paid back R500 000 to the company a few weeks later.

Although she pleaded guilty and claimed remorse, the court found her guilty of betraying the company’s trust, causing employees to be retrenched, and imposed a direct imprisonment sentence.

Photo by Ron Lach