A former lawyer, Excellent Vukani Mthembu (37), who was practicing at Vukani Attorneys Nelspruit Mbombela was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Nelspruit on Friday 19 March 2022 for theft of trust funds.
Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, police spokesperson, says the suspect, who was practicing as a lawyer at Nelspruit, was appointed by his clients and submitted claims on their behalf to the Road Accident Fund, Master of High Court and Estate Office.
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“Upon receiving the monies, he allegedly pocketed them and also money for litigation after a client approached him to appoint a private investigator to conduct a private investigation on her behalf. She is said to have paid the money into the lawyer’s trust account,” said capt. Sekgotodi.
The accused stole the total amount of R 981 452.54 actual loss whilst claims to the total value of R 1300 000 potential loss was stopped by the Fidelity Fund.
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The suspect was arrested and released on R5000 bail and the case was postponed to 6 April 2022 at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
*SAPS Press Release
