Father’s gambling disorder led him down a slippery slope
koend@theherald.co.za
Details of how a Kirkwood man, found guilty of stealing more than R14m from his employer, developed a gambling addiction to fuel his need to be in control and give him a sense of importance were laid bare in the Gqeberha commercial crimes court yesterday.
Testifying on behalf of the defence, clinical psychologist Iain Reid said Harold Henry suffered from a gambling disorder and since 2009 had frequently visited the Boardwalk casino in the hope of making money.
By 2013, the 47-year-old father of three had become a regular at the casino and was spending more money than he could afford.
According to Reid, who compiled a report submitted to the court, Henry had by that stage developed a severe urge to gamble and had taken petty cash from his previous employer.
Later that year, Henry banned himself from the casino for a year and went for counselling after contacting the responsible gambling helpline for assistance.
In 2014, however, Henry was back to gambling away thousands of rand.
After winning R85,000 in 2017, Henry’s addiction grew stronger, which rapidly turned into large losses.
By 2019, Henry began stealing money from his then employers, Strathmore Farm Trust and its beneficiaries, Suenay
Whyte and her husband, Digby.
“[Henry] was consumed with gambling [and] hoped for a big win,” Reid said.
Henry would also steal money to fund family holidays and other activities over and above gambling.
In August, Henry pleaded guilty to stealing R14m from the Strathmore Farm Trust and its beneficiaries between
March 2019 and December 8 2021, while employed as an office administrator and bookkeeper.
Initially appointed to assist Whyte, Henry took over her duties completely, which included paying all creditors and employees of the trust, balancing books via the Pastel accounting system and paying wages through the Oranjelone Wage programme.
Henry also had full access to the online banking system and had the username and password to the trust’s bank account.
He admitted transferring money from the trust’s account to his own, with the payment beneficiaries reflected as known creditors.
Henry further admitted to abusing an arrangement the trust had with a local business in Kirkwood, Siyanceda CC, previously operating as CJ & K Geyer, to pay out weekly cash wages on their behalf to casual workers and employees who did not have bank accounts.
According to Reid, Henry, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, began gambling online, which resulted in further major financial losses.
It was only after his actions were uncovered by independent auditors that Henry stopped gambling.
At the same time, Henry attempted suicide by drinking pesticides but was rushed to hospital by Whyte for treatment after she found him in his office shortly after he sent her a message in an attempt to apologise for his wrongdoing.
According to Reid, Henry’s suicide attempt was impulsive and an emotionally charged reaction after being caught out.
Reid said while Henry showed remorse for what he had done, it was his view that Henry should be sentenced to a term of direct imprisonment.
In mitigation of sentencing, Henry’s Legal Aid SA-appointed lawyer, Anlen Jarman, asked the court for leniency, arguing that Henry had pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for the pain and anguish suffered by the Whytes.
In aggravation of sentencing, state advocate Lise Keech said Henry had devastated the Whyte family, which once regarded him as one of their own, and that the only reason he had stopped gambling was because he no longer had access to money.
“He stole from that hand that fed him and has still not gone for treatment for his gambling addiction,” Keech said.
After hearing arguments, magistrate Lionel Lindoor said he needed time to consider an appropriate sentence and postponed the matter to tomorrow.