A Port Elizabeth lawyer has been nabbed for stealing close R2.5 million from a man who was paralysed following a car accident.
Shaun Masimla, who is registered with the Cape Law Society, made his first appearance in the Port Elizabeth Magistrates’ Court yesterday and was released on bail of R2000.
According to the charge sheet, during 2011, Edison Cunningham instituted a claim with the Road Accident Fund following a car accident which left him paralysed.
At the time, Masimla was appointed to deal with the claim. South African law requires that any practising practitioner will open and keep a separate trust banking account at a banking institution and will deposit money held or received by him on account of any person.
According to the State, in January 2012 the RAF made a payment of
R173 515.20 into Masimla’s trust account, for the benefit of Cunningham, as part of the settlement to the claim.
Subsequent to the first payment, in February 2012, the RAF made a further payment of
R960 000 into Masimla’s trust account as part of the settlement to Cunningham’s claim.
In April 2012, the RAF made a final payment of R2 397 604.16 into Masimla’s trust account for the benefit of Cunningham.
The State says Masimla paid just over R1m to Cunningham and allegedly pocketed R2.4m.
The case was postponed to 12 February to be heard in the Specialised Port Elizabeth Commercial Crime Court.
ANA