The sentencing of a Grahamstown vet's former book-keeper, Louise Bowker, has been postponed yet again after two clinical psychologists testified in mitigation yesterday.
The sentencing of a Grahamstown vet's former book-keeper, Louise Bowker, has been postponed yet again after two clinical psychologists testified in mitigation yesterday.
The defence, according to prosecutor Ronel Brink, asked for yet another postponement after hearing the testimony of two clinical psychologists.
Brink said the defence called Port Elizabeth practising psychologist Dr Ian Meyer and University of the Free State professor A Louw to testify in mitigation.
She said the defence wanted to call a third clinical psychologist and asked for a remand.
After the last postponement National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional communications manager Tsepo Ndwalaza said Meyer would testify in mitigation of sentence in the fraud and theft case of Bowker.
Ndwalaza confirmed that the case was scheduled to proceed on 24 October 2013 for sentencing.
"However, on that day the defence requested a remand, as Dr Ian Meyer was not ready to present his report and Advocate Price was not available as well," he said.
Bowker was found guilty of theft in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Monday 3 June.
The court found that Bowker stole R1 412 899.43 from Dr Phillip Gilfillan of the Grahamstown Veterinary Clinic over two years, while working as his practice manager.
Sentencing was set down for 24 October, but the defence asked for a postponement.
In her plea Bowker claimed that a deteriorated mental state, brought on by work stresses and post-natal depression, had led her to steal compulsively between August 2008 and December 2010.
Most of the money was spent on horses and riding equipment, to escape life’s pressures, she said.
Knowing the passwords to Gilfillan’s accounts, Bowker had possessed the information she needed to make electronic transactions for her boss, according to court documents.
Bowker had felt as though she couldn’t stop stealing, the documents state. This, she claims, led her to eventually “make available” incriminating bank statements that she’d previously hidden at home.
According to her plea, she wrote a resignation and apology letter, helped the auditors identify the items and "voluntarily made payment to the complainant in an amount of R732 294.61… [and]co-operated fully with the investigating officer…”
Bowker pleaded guilty and sentencing is expected to be on 27 February next year. She is out of custody on warning.
