Lawyer sentenced for siphoning road accident funds
During that time Law Society opened a case and it was transferred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit and the accused was subsequently arrested
The magistrates at Witbank Magistrate’s Court have been busy sentencing various people.
In the regional court on Monday, November 25 Wellington Buti Nkathi, (58) was found guilty and sentenced for theft and practicing as an attorney without a fidelity certificate which is required for one to practice as an admitted attorney.
It is alleged that in March 2009 Nkathi, who was a lawyer, failed to renew his fidelity certificate after it was revoked because of his misconduct of claiming from the Road Accident Fund on behalf of the clients and pocketed the money for himself to a total amount of R400 000.
During that time Law Society opened a case and it was transferred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit and the accused was subsequently arrested.
The accused was sentenced for theft to two years imprisonment suspended for four years on condition that he is not convicted of theft committed during the period of suspension.
For practicing as an attorney without a certificate, the accused was sentenced to four years imprisonment and he also have to pay R2 000 and if he fails to pay, he will serve two months imprisonment.
