EASTERN CAPE – Bernice Viljoen (55), the ex-wife and former secretary at Dewald Viljoen Attorneys was convicted and sentenced by the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for charges of theft on Friday, 25 March 2022.

Between July 2009 and October 2011, Bernice Viljoen who is the ex-wife to Attorney Dewald Viljoen of Dewald Viljoen Attorneys, was employed as the bookkeeper to the firm. The employer was a registered attorney and held a trust account which was solely intended to be used for safekeeping of deposited monies which was received by him on behalf of his clients. Various deposits were made into the trust account. These deposits were related to Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims, property sales and debt collections. The monies were never distributed to the rightful beneficiaries but rather into Dewald Viljoen Prokereurs business account and Boerdery bank account. Bernice, as the bookkeeper of the practice, was aware of the unlawful misappropriations.

In February 2012, various complaints were lodged by the victims with Gqeberha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks for investigation which led to the arrest of Bernice and Dewald Viljoen on 17 March 2016. They appeared in court and were released on warning. The investigation revealed that the victims were prejudiced cash of more than R500 000.

On 25 March 2022, Bernice Viljoen was sentenced to two years of correctional supervision which includes house arrest and community service for that period. Further four years imprisonment suspended for three years. Dewald Viljoen is currently tried on same charges.

Source: South African Police Service