The case against former Grahamstown bookkeeper Louise Bowker was postponed on Thursday 27 February after she and her attorney failed to arrive in court.
The case against former Grahamstown bookkeeper Louise Bowker was postponed on Thursday 27 February after she and her attorney failed to arrive in court.
Bowker, a former employee of Grahamstown vet Dr Phillip Gilfillan was due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court for sentencing on Thursday. She was found guilty of misappropriating over R1 million.
In her previous court appearance the defence, according to prosecutor Ronel Brink, had asked for yet another postponement after hearing the testimony of two clinical psychologists.
Brink said the defence had called Port Elizabeth psychologist Dr Ian Meyer and Professor Anet Louw of the University of the Free State to testify in mitigation.
Brink said the defence wanted to call a third clinical psychologist and had asked for a remand.
However, when the case was due to return to court, Bowker and her attorney failed to arrive.
Bowker was found guilty of theft in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Monday 3 June 2013.
Bowker, who had access to Gilfillan’s personal account admitted to having misappropriated R1 260 000 after Gilfillan’s wife discovered disparities in his statements.
Bowker claimed to have used the money to pay South African Revenue Service but later resigned after she could not produce any evidence. According to court records, an audit later established that Bowker had in fact misappropriated R1 412 899.43 from
Gilfillan’s Veterinary Clinic over two years, while working as his financial manager.
In court documents, Bowker claimed that a deteriorated mental state brought on by work-related stress and post-natal depression had led her to compulsively steal from her employer between August 2008 and December 2010.
She said most of the money was used on horses and riding equipment, to escape life’s pressures.
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, who is currently out of custody on warning, was expected to appear in court yesterday. The case has been set down for 22 and 23 April for sentencing.
