Woman, 32, found guilty of stealing nearly R500k from Rhodes University

Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said Xabiya was employed as a finance administrator at Rhodes University between 1 January 2017 and 1 December 2018.

During this period, the accused processed fraudulent travel and subsistence claims before unlawfully moving the money to fraudulent accounts for her own enrichment.

“The University, on discovering the abnormality, referred the matter to Gqeberha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for probing which led to her arrest on 3 December 2021. She made a short court appearance on the same day and was released on a warning,” said Mgolodela.

The Hawks’ investigation revealed that the accused defrauded the Rhodes University of more than R480 000.

The accused is expected to be sentenced on 20 June 2022.