The Rustenburg Regional Court has issued a warrant of arrest for a disgraced attorney who failed to show up at court on Tuesday where she faces six charges of theft.
The National Prosecuting Authority in North West Province said 52-year-old Betty Diale's trial was due to start, but she gave no reasons for failing to show up at court.
NPA spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said Diale, a former EFF North West chairperson, was given all the necessary documents to prepare for her trial as she had opted to represent herself.
Mamothame says a new trial date will be set following her arrest.
Diale is facing six charges of theft, amounting to approximately R700 000, allegedly stolen from claimants of the Road Accident Fund.
Mamothame said police reports reveal that the Legal Practice Fidelity Fund had received several complaints from RAF claimants whose payments were deposited into Diale's trust account.
He said she was still a practicing attorney during the alleged commission of the crimes between 2009 and 2011 before she was struck off the roll of practising attorneys by the Legal Practice Council.
