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REPORTABLE
CASE NO.: SA 94/2011
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NAMIBIA
In the matter between:
THE STATE APPELLANT
and
SYLVIA CONDENTIA VAN WYK RESPONDENT
Coram: Shivute CJ, Maritz JA
et 
Mainga JAHeard on: 28/06/2012Delivered on: 15/11/2012 _________________________________________________________________ 
APPEAL JUDGMENT
 _________________________________________________________________ 
MAINGA JA (SHIVUTE CJ AND MARITZ JA CONCURRING)
[1] A sentence of N$20 000.00 or 3 years imprisonment, plus a further 3 yearsimprisonment wholly suspended for 3 years for 
the respondent‟s convictions on 22
counts of fraud in the sum of N$1 223 610.21 perpetrated for over a period of oneand a half years, the appellant contends, is so extremely lenient that it induces asense of shock. In addition, it submits, the sentence is the product of several
 
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misdirections by the trial Judge and, therefore, warrants it to be set aside onappeal and to be substituted for an appropriate sentence which suits the natureand gravity of the offence, the personal circumstances of the respondent andinterests of the society. Whether these contentions are correct, is the question weare saddled with in this appeal. It arose in this way.[2] On 10 March 2009 the respondent, together with Mr Seth Jacobs Louw,appeared before Parker J in the High Court on 22 counts of fraud in the sum of N$1 223 610,21 to the actual or potential loss or prejudice of Nutrifood and/or Independence Catering and/or Windhoek Mechanised Accounting Service. Shepleaded guilty while her co-accused pleaded not guilty. A separation of trials wasordered and she was convicted as charged on her own admissions. On 5 June2009 she was sentenced to N$20 000.00 or 3 years imprisonment, plus a further 3years imprisonment which was wholly suspended for 3 years on condition that shewould not be convicted of the crime of fraud, committed during the period of suspension.[3]
The respondent was employed as a creditor‟s clerk by Windhoek
Mechanised Accounting Services (Pty) Ltd, a company duly appointed to render accounting services for various companies, inter alia, Nutrifood and IndependenceCatering (Pty) Ltd. As part of its mandate, it was responsible to see to the day today accounting requirements of the two companies.[4]
Respondent‟s duties
as creditor 
s clerk included the reconciliation of supplyinvoices, goods received, vouchers and company orders and, if satisfied that
 
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payment is due, to make out cheques on behalf of Nutrifood or IndependenceCatering in favour of the suppliers; to take the completed cheques to person(s)authorised to sign the same; and then to effect payment to the creditorsconcerned. The scope of the supply contracts entailed the issuing of chequesworth millions of dollars annually.[5] Manzani Enterprises CC was one of the suppliers of food products toNutrifood and Independence Catering on a credit basis. Theirs was one of theportfolios handled by the respondent.[6] The respondent and Mr Seth Jacobus Louw devised a scheme to generateand, thereafter, embezzle and misappropriate duplicate payments by Nutrifoodand Independence Catering to Manzani. Mr Louw approached the respondent andsuggested the scheme. He would use the invoices of Manzani which he wouldforward to the respondent. Mr Louw had no connection with Manzani. How he gothold of Manzani invoices is not clear from the record. The respondent wouldduplicate payments to Manzani by causing a genuine payment to be made withManzani against a specific invoice and thereafter she would make out a secondcheque in favour of Manzani against the same invoice and, depending on whichcompany the invoice was addressed to, present it to the authorised person to signon behalf of Nutrifood or Independence Catering.[7] After the second cheque had been signed, she would then add the words'c/o S. Louw' or 'c/o S.J. Louw' thereby altering the wording of the payee to read:'Manzani Enterprises CC c/o S. Louw' or 'Manzani Enterprises CC c/o S.J. Louw'.

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