Latest news with #Vern
The South African
3 days ago
- The South African
Asset Forfeiture Unit to pounce on Delmas primary school worker
On 5 June 2025, a former financial officer at Delmas Primary School appeared before the Delmas Regional Court. 52-year-old Larrisa Vern has been convicted of fraud and money laundering. She is accused of stealing more than R2 million from the school over a period of two years. 'Vern was appointed in her position in December 2021 and assumed her duties in January 2022,' said Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi. Shortly after joining the school, a whistleblower notified the authorities about Vern's criminal activities. The whistleblower reported that Vern had made two bonus payments to her bank account. Today in Delmas Regional Court, the Asset Forfeiture Unit presented their case as to why Vern should have her assets confiscated and a possible lengthier sentence. 'The matter was referred to the Hawks for investigation. The team of investigators managed to secure a warrant of arrest on 06 February 2024 that resulted in her arrest three days later on 09 February 2024,' said Nkosi. He said as the investigation continued, more dirty linen was uncovered by the Hawks. It was established that Vern caused an actual loss of R2 792 912.58 to Delmas Primary School. According to Nkosi, Vern allegedly paid money to four different bank accounts using different references. After making the payments, she then transferred the monies into her main account. Nkosi said the state successfully proved 94 counts of fraud and 555 counts of money laundering. Vern pleaded guilty on all charges before Delmas Regional Court on 21 May 2025. She was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for fraud. Five of the years are suspended for five years, on condition that she is not involved in fraudulent activities during the time of suspension. Vern was sentenced to a further ten years in prison for money laundering. Both sentences will run concurrently. The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, has commended the team of investigators for the work they did on the case. He said the prosecution team handled the case in an excellent manner. 'The next step is to seize the proceeds she accumulated through her criminal activities. Gone are the days that you can benefit from your criminal deeds,' he said. DO YOU THINK 15 YEARS IS AN ADEQUATE SENTENCE FOR FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Jailed for two decades: How Larrisa Vern stole R2. 8 million from Delmas Primary School
Former Delmas Primary School financial officer, Larrisa Vern, has been sentenced to 25 years behind bars after she was convicted on charges of fraud and money laundering. Image: Hawks The Delmas Regional Court has sentenced 52-year-old former Delmas Primary School financial officer, Larrisa Vern, to 20 years behind bars after she was convicted on charges of fraud and money laundering. 'This came after the Hawks Secunda-based serious commercial crime investigation (unit), priority crime specialised investigation (unit), Hawks asset forfeiture investigation (unit), and National Prosecuting Authority proved criminal activities against Vern,' said Mpumalanga spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi. Vern was appointed to her position at the school in December 2021 and assumed her duties in January 2022. 'In less than two years, her criminal activities were exposed after a whistleblower notified the authorities regarding two bonus payments made by her to her bank account,' said Nkosi. The matter was referred to the Hawks for investigation. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. The team of investigators managed to secure a warrant of arrest on 6 February 2024. Vern was arrested three days later, on 9 February 2024. 'Investigation continued, and more dirty linen was uncovered as it was established that Vern caused an actual loss of R2,792,912 to the school,' said Nkosi. Vern paid money to four different bank accounts using different references before transferring the money to her main account. In court, the state successfully proved 94 counts of fraud and 555 counts of money laundering. Vern pleaded guilty on all charges before the Delmas Regional Court on 21 May 2025. 'Vern was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for fraud, of which five years is suspended for five years on the condition that she is not involved in fraudulent activities during the time of suspension. She was further sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for money laundering,' said Nkosi. The court ruled that both sentences will run concurrently. Vern is expected back in court on 5 June 2025 to allow the Asset Forfeiture Unit to present its case. Meanwhile, provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber has commended the team of investigators and the prosecution team for the 'excellent manner in which they dealt with the case'. 'The next step is to seize the proceeds she accumulated through her criminal activities. Gone are the days that you can benefit from your criminal deeds,' said Gerber. In 2023, a Limpopo woman was arrested by the Hawks on allegations of stealing R1.5 million from her employer, the Thabazimbi Christian School. At the time, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks in Limpopo, Lieutenant-Colonel Matimba Maluleke said Pretorius was arrested by the Limpopo Hawks serious commercial crime investigation unit for allegedly embezzling R1.5 million from the Thabazimbi Christian School. [email protected] IOL News
