The Bethal Magistrate’s Court sentenced a man to four years’ imprisonment or a fine of R20 000 for impersonating a lawyer in court.

Ironically, while Doctor Sobetha (32) was still in court after being sentenced yesterday, June 5, he was arrested again for fraud that he allegedly committed in Moroka, Gauteng, in 2023.

Following his sentence, the court ordered Sobetha to pay back the money amounting to R40 000 that he had charged his client in 2019, payable in instalments of R3 000 per month.

The client was facing a murder charge and Sobetha represented him during his bail application.

The state prosecutor could pick up from Sobetha’s arguments that something was not adding up. He was requested to provide proof in court that he was indeed a legal practitioner but failed to do so,” said the Mpumalanga Hawks’ spokesperson, Colonel Magonseni Nkosi.

Nkosi said the Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation members that were in court immediately arrested him after which the matter was referred to the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further inquiry.

He said Sobetha was granted bail in 2024 and absconded, resulting in a warrant of arrest being authorised against him.

“An investigation led members of the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management System to Durban, where the suspect was arrested on May 22 this year,” said Nkosi.

ALSO READ: Skukuza Regional Court sentences poacher to 14 years in jail

He was brought back to Mpumalanga, where he appeared before the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Friday, May 30. The matter was postponed and Sobethu was remanded in custody until he appeared in the same court again yesterday.

He pleaded guilty and the court sentenced immediately. Two of his four-year sentence was suspended for five years on the condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence during that period.

The Mpumalanga head of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber, warned people to consult with registered legal advisers.

“It is concerning if people are defrauded by people like Sobetha whose formal education does not even go beyond high school level,” concluded Gerber.