A Cape Town lawyer has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for defrauding his clients with Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims.
The 53-year-old owner of BA Bauman Attorneys, Brian Albertus Bauman, from Bellville, specialised in RAF claims and used the R14.8 million he defrauded to fund his gambling addiction.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Eric Ntabazalila, said the court ordered an investigation to determine whether assets could be confiscated from Bauman.
Ntabazalila said Bauman confessed that he received more than R24.4m on behalf of his clients from the RAF but only paid out R6.7m, pocketing the rest.
“Bauman confessed that after electronic transfers were made by RAF into his practice’s trust account, he failed to pay monies that were due to his clients or paid them less amounts than what was due to them,” prosecutor Advocate Siphokazi Makanda said.
Makanda said he defrauded clients who suffered injuries and had been compensated by the RAF to improve their quality of life.
“He continued with his criminal actions against his clients even after charges were laid against him, proving total lack of remorse for his actions,” she said.
Bauman, a divorcee with three children, told the court he had a gambling addiction and blew the bulk of the money dowweling, but said he was receiving help for his addiction and attended gambling anonymous meetings.
In consultation with the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the state applied for the confiscation order of Bauman’s assets.
He was also ordered to give a statement that included a list of assets or property he held and its current value.
African News Agency