Law firm clerk sentenced for defrauding deceased estates and trust funds
“It was discovered that he had distributed over R4,9 million out of deceased estates and trust funds to himself, family, and friends.”
BLOEMFONTEIN .- A man convicted for fraud, money laundering, and contravention of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 was sentenced by the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Friday, September 8, for fraud, money laundering, and contravention of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002.
According to Free State Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, Herman Daniel Badenhorst (36) was a clerk for a group of associated law firms in Bloemfontein.
“Amongst his duties was the administration of deceased estates and trust funds.”
In November 2019, when he was working for the second law firm, it was discovered that he had distributed over R4,9 million out of deceased estates and trust funds to himself, family, and friends. The transfers were made between 2008 and 2018.”
The case was investigated by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based in Bloemfontein.
The accused was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for fraud of which seven years was suspended for five years, five years direct imprisonment for money laundering, and two years direct imprisonment for contravention of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.
