MANZINI - The maid who stole E100 000 from her employer, a businessman based in Manzini, has been sentenced to seven years behind bars.
Nomphumelelo Dlamini (33) of KaKhoza under Manzini South Constituency was arrested on Tuesday after she stole a sum of money in cash from her employer - Elani Kowser Chowdhury at Liqhaga Flats in Manzini, where he resides.
A source close to the matter said on Friday afternoon, the businessman discovered that a sum of E100 000, which was intended for his business operations, had disappeared in his house.
The source also mentioned that the businessman reported the matter at Manzini Police Station. He is said to have told the police that he suspected his trusted employee.
He said the police launched a thorough investigation and the 33-year-old woman, who was employed as a maid by the businessman, was taken in to assist the law enforcers with information pertaining to the disappearance of Chowdhury’s money.
During the investigation, the source alleged, the woman led the police to a traditional healer at the densely-populated Mahlabatsini in Matsapha, where they recovered a sum of about E43 000.
The source said the woman led the law enforcers to her friends around KaKhoza and about E24 000 was recovered, bringing the recovered amount to E67 000.
The source further said since the police had enough evidence that the woman had committed the offence of theft, they arrested and charged her. While being arrested, the maid allegedly promised to assist the police in recovering some of the stolen money.
She appeared in court before Magistrate Sebenzile Ndlela yesterday. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and the Crown paraded witnesses to prove the commission of the criminal offence.
The court sentenced her to seven years imprisonment without an option of a fine. She was also ordered to compensate the businessman the balance of E32 900 prior to her release.
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The maid who stole E100 000 from her employer, a businessman based in Manzini, has been sentenced to seven years behind bars.