GQEBERHA, Eastern Cape — A 44-year-old woman from Gqeberha, identified as Nortier, has been convicted for defrauding her employer, FSPA, of more than R1.6 million through a complex scheme involving 17 different bank accounts in her name.
The conviction took place on May 7, 2025, at the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, where Nortier faced charges of fraud and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, No. 121 of 1998.
According to Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, spokesperson for the Hawks, Nortier’s criminal activities were uncovered following an investigation led by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, alongside the National Prosecuting Authority. Her fraudulent actions occurred between September 2019 and November 2022 while she was employed as a debtor’s clerk at FSPA, a company that provides administrative support to Sectional Title and Homeowners Association clients in the Gqeberha region.
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
FSPA managed 82 housing complexes and operated joint trust accounts to handle the levy payments for each complex. Nortier, however, used these accounts to divert funds that were due to her clients into bank accounts she controlled. The fraud was discovered on November 2, 2022, when a discrepancy was noted after levies for two different property owners were paid into the same account.
Upon further investigation, authorities revealed that Nortier had set up 17 different bank accounts in her name, which she used to siphon off significant sums of money from the company. This led to a financial loss of over R1.6 million for FSPA.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Nortier was arrested in August 2024, after her fraudulent activities were exposed. She made several appearances in court, where she was granted R100 bail due to her socio-economic circumstances. Despite this, she continued to face legal proceedings, which culminated in her conviction on May 7, 2025.
The case was adjourned to June 19, 2025, for pre-sentencing. The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, commended the investigative team for securing the conviction and expressed hope that a strong sentence would deter similar crimes in the future.
In a Separate Case: Counterfeit Goods Conviction
In a separate matter, 24-year-old Syed Khurram Aftab was found guilty of contravening the Counterfeit Goods Act and fined R136,750 by the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on May 5, 2025.
The case against Aftab arose after Spoor & Fisher Attorneys, a firm specializing in trademark protection and anti-counterfeiting, received a complaint about counterfeit Apple iPhone products being sold at a shop in Walmer, Gqeberha. Following an investigation, a raid on the shop in March 2025 led to the seizure of 185 counterfeit iPhone accessories, including silicone covers, adapters, cables, and smartwatches. The total value of the counterfeit goods was estimated at R720,000.
Aftab paid a prescribed admission of guilt fine and was convicted for his role in the sale of counterfeit items.
