Excellent Vukani Mthembu – a former lawyer who practiced at Vukani Attorneys in Mbombela (Nelspruit) – has been arrested on suspicion of stealing about one million rand from a trust account.
The 37-year-old accused had been appointed by clients to submit their Road Accidents Fund claims when the alleged offences occurred.
Mthembu allegedly submitted the claims to the Road Accident Fund, Master of High Court, and Estate Office.
“Upon receiving the money, he allegedly pocketed it,” said Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi.
Mthembu also allegedly pocketed money paid by a client for litigation. The client had allegedly approached the accused to appoint a private investigator on her behalf.
She is said to have paid the monies into the lawyer’s trust account.
“The accused allegedly stole the total amount of R 981 452.54 actual loss whilst claims to the total value of R 1.3 million potential loss was stopped by the Fidelity Fund,” said Captain Sekgotodi.
Mthembu was arrested by elite crime busters – the Hawks – on Friday 19 March 2022 and released on R5 000 bail.
He will next appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 6 April 2022.
