A disbarred Port Elizabeth lawyer has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including five counts of fraud, in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court.
Anne Swanepoel is accused of pocketing thousands of rands from clients after being barred from practising law by the Makhanda High Court in August 2015 after she was convicted of theft.
She later also abandoned her application for leave to appeal that order.
The court heard on Monday, however, that she continued practising following the 2015 court order.
Swanepoel also faces charges of theft of trust money amounting to R140 000, contempt of court and contravening the Attorneys Act.
She also made headlines in 2015 when she testified for the defence at the Christopher Panayioutou trial.
Swanepoel initially represented the alleged hitman Sizwezakhe Vumazonke who died in prison before the trial commenced.
Vumazonke claimed that he was assaulted by police during his arrest and allegedly shared this information with his then lawyer, Swanepoel.
Her trial continues.
