The bail application of a former Gqeberha attorney who allegedly stole more than half a million rand from a widow and her children, was postponed in the city's magistrates court on Friday.
Shaun Masimla, who was struck from the roll of attorneys in 2021 due to a separate pending case against him, was arrested by the Hawks on Tuesday.
The court heard that he will be detained in the holding cells at the Humewood police station pending the finalisation of his bail application.
During a previous court appearance, Masimla said that he feared that his life might be in danger if he was held at the St Albans Correctional Centre.
The state alleges that he stole more than R600 000 from a widow whom he represented in a Road Accident Fund claim in 2018.
It is further alleged that Masimla was out on bail on a Schedule 5 offence when he committed the alleged transgression.
Also read: Disbarred attorney nabbed by Hawks for allegedly stealing from a widow
According to the charge sheet, Sindiwe Mdutyana's husband, Zingisa, died in a car accident on 1 July 2010, and in 2014 she appointed Masimla to represent her in the RAF claim.
In January 2018, the RAF paid more than R657 000 into Masimla's trust account, but he is alleged to have only paid over R80 000 to the claimant. By May that year there was just R660 of the RAF money left in the account.
The Legal Practice Council's Fidelity Fund compensated Mdutyana in the amount of R540 000 for the loss.
Masimla will be back in court on 16 November.
