What was once a trusted school office job turned into a criminal case that rocked a local community.
The quiet town of Delmas witnessed a dramatic courtroom moment on 5 June 2025, when 52-year-old Larrisa Vern, a former financial officer at Delmas Primary School, was convicted of fraud and money laundering—all linked to a shocking R2.7 million theft.
A Suspicious Bonus Raises Eyebrows
It all started shortly after Vern began her role at the school in January 2022.
She had been officially appointed in December 2021, but by the time she settled into her role, things were already going sideways.
According to the Hawks’ spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, it wasn’t long before a whistleblower came forward, reporting that Vern had sneakily sent two suspicious bonus payments into her own bank account.
Hawks Launch Investigation and Uncover Shocking Details
Following the tip-off, the case was handed over to the Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
Their team wasted no time.
By February 6, 2024, they had secured a warrant for Vern’s arrest, and by February 9, she was behind bars.
As investigators dug deeper, they discovered this was no isolated incident.
It turned out Vern had been siphoning off money using four different bank accounts, each time using different references to avoid suspicion.
Then she’d transfer the funds into her main personal account—like clockwork.
The final tally? A jaw-dropping R2,792,912.58 was stolen from the school’s finances.
A Mountain of Charges and a Courtroom Confession
Once the evidence was all laid out, it was clear this case wasn’t just about a few bonuses gone rogue.
Vern ended up facing 94 counts of fraud and a staggering 555 counts of money laundering.
In Delmas Regional Court on 21 May 2025, she admitted guilt on all counts.
The sentencing came down hard: 15 years for fraud (with five years suspended), and another 10 years for money laundering.
Fortunately for her, both sentences will run concurrently—but that’s still a decade behind bars.
Authorities Aim to Seize Every Illicit Rand
Now that the criminal conviction is secured, attention has turned to what happens to Vern’s assets.
In court, the Asset Forfeiture Unit made their case to have her illegally-gained assets confiscated—everything she bought or gained thanks to the stolen money.
Major General Nico Gerber, head of the Hawks in the province, applauded the investigation and prosecution team.
“The days of enjoying the fruits of your crimes are over,” he said.
“We will make sure the stolen money doesn’t stay in her hands.”
What’s Next?
The court still needs to make a final ruling on asset forfeiture, but one thing is clear—justice has caught up with Vern.
As the education sector deals with the aftermath, this case is a reminder that schools, even at primary level, need tighter checks to prevent corruption from taking root.