SA mom jailed for 'new low'
09/02/2008 11:39  - (SA)  

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Mom jailed for strangling son 'Crime wave' may hit NZ

Wellington - A South African immigrant woman who stole money from a charity trust fund set up to pay for her injured nine-year-old daughter's surgery has been sent to prison for six months, it was reported on Saturday.

The crime was described as "a new low" when Lyndell du Toit, 31, appeared in court in Christchurch on Friday, The Press newspaper reported.

Du Toit had earlier admitted stealing NZ$18 000 from a fund established to pay for an operation on her daughter Charley's leg which was savaged by a dog in South Africa three years ago.

Crown prosecutor Tim Mackenzie said she had used her child to generate income and "feed her own greed".

Judge Jane Farish said the money that du Toit took had been donated by New Zealanders to help the girl but none of it was used for her medical expenses.

The court was told that du Toit, who has two other children, was expected to be deported after serving her sentence.

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