School bursar stole R2m

A former high school assistant bursar who stole more than R2 million was on Thursday sentenced to six years in prison by the East London Magistrate’s Court.

Earlier this year Cambridge High School assistant bursar Merle Laity was found guilty on eight counts of theft and one of fraud involving more than R2 million which she stole from the school between 2005 and 2009.

Some of the counts include stealing R132 000 received from the school’s Parent Teacher Association fundraising efforts, stealing more than R300 000 paid by pupils for school blazers, badges, school camps and other items, as well as the theft of R178 000 received for pupils’ photographs.

Two years was suspended on condition that Laity pays back R625 000. The 56-year-old was arrested in 2009 after being exposed by her colleague Maria “Gerda” de Wet who pleaded guilty to a count of fraud and theft in 2008.

The former principal of Cambridge High, Grassy Buitandag, testified in court during the trial that the school suffered financially to the point where they could not pay salaries as a result of the theft.

The court found that Laity had been unreliable throughout the case and labelled her crimes as very serious. “People must learn that white collar crimes are destroying the country and that they are a serious offence,” the magistrate said.

Laity applied to appeal both the conviction and sentence, but the magistrate denied her application to appeal the conviction.

Laity’s legal representative, advocate Johan Bester, said another court might come to a different conclusion on the sentence which may not include imprisonment. Her lawyer was given six weeks to ask the High Court in the Eastern Cape to grant her an appeal date. She remains out on bail until the date is determined. – ANA