A former Gqeberha attorney, who allegedly stole millions from a paralysed client, was re-arrested by the Hawks on Tuesday.
Shaun Masimla, who was struck from the roll of attorneys in 2021 due to the pending case against him, found himself in the dock yet again, on an unrelated charge.
This time, the state alleges that he stole more than R600 000 from a widow whom he successfully represented with a Road Accident Fund (RAF) Claim in 2018.
According to the charge sheet, Sindiwe Mdutyana's husband, Zingisa, died in a car accident on 1 July 2010.
She appointed Masimla to represent her in August 2014.
On 10 January 2018, the RAF paid an amount of more than R657 000 into the accused's account, but he allegedly only paid R80 000 to the claimant.
It is alleged that there was only R660 of the claimant's money left in his account by May 2018.
In November 2021 the Legal Practice Council's Fidelity Fund paid the amount of more than R540 000 to the claimant to compensate her for the loss she and her children suffered at the hands of the accused, according to the charge sheet.
During his appearance in the Gqeberha Magistrates Court, Masimla said he feared that his life would be in danger, should he be incarcerated at the St Albans Correctional Centre.
According to Masimla he had practiced as an attorney for more than two decades and had dealt with many criminal matters during his tenure.
The matter was postponed to the 10th of November for a formal bail application to be conducted.
Masimla was out on bail for the previous pending case when he allegedly committed the second offence.
On the pending charge, which is before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, the state alleges that Masimla stole close to R2.5 million from a man who was paralysed following a car accident.
Also read: PE attorney in court on mullti-million rand theft charge
