Former KuGompo Restaurant Manager Jailed for Almost R600,000 Fraud

A 62-year-old woman who previously worked as a restaurant manager has been sentenced to two years’ direct imprisonment after being convicted of fraud involving the now-closed Saffron Family Kitchen in East London.

The woman was sentenced in the KuGompo Magistrates Court on Wednesday after being found guilty on 14 counts of fraud.

The case relates to her six-month tenure as general manager of the restaurant in 2022, with the fraud involving almost R600,000.

During the trial, the State alleged that the woman manipulated and voided transactions, failed to hand over cash received by the restaurant and directed payments for functions into her personal bank account.

During closing arguments, the State argued that evidence from 12 witnesses corroborated its case.

The prosecution said more than R51,000 had been paid by clients into the woman’s personal bank account.

The State rejected her explanation that she had permission from the restaurant’s owner to receive money into her personal account for business expenses.

It also argued that she had been trained to operate the restaurant’s Vetron system and had the authority to void transactions.

Her defence maintained that the State had failed to prove the elements of fraud beyond reasonable doubt.

Her attorney argued that she had permission to receive certain payments for the running of the business and that other staff members had access to the Vetron system when she was away from the restaurant.

The woman was subsequently convicted on all 14 counts of fraud.

The 14 counts were treated as one for sentencing purposes in terms of Section 276(1)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act.

She was sentenced to two years’ direct imprisonment.

The defence had previously indicated its intention to appeal both the conviction and sentence.