Cape Town - A Somerset West attorney, Gideon Joubert Louw, 48, has received a five-year suspended sentence and has been ordered to reimburse his victims after he was found guilty for theft of trust funds.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said Louw was sentenced by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville.
Practising under the name Gideon Joubert Louw Attorneys, Hani said Louw misappropriated funds in his trust account worth over R511 286 between 2014 and 2015 in Somerset West.
The funds were meant to purchase and register properties on behalf of his clients.
“The funds were used for personal gain instead of purchasing the properties. The matter was then reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for probing which culminated in Louw’s arrest on October 11, 2021.
“Louw pleaded guilty which resulted in his conviction and sentence on October 25.
“He was sentenced to five years, wholly suspended for five years.
“Furthermore, the court ordered him to reimburse the victims an amount of R220 383.20.”
Separately the Hawks this week welcomed the conviction and sentencing of three cash-in-transit robbers to 12 years imprisonment each.
The three were arrested after robbing a Fidelity armoured vehicle that was responsible for the South African Social Security Agency pay-outs at a community hall in Nyanga.
Hani said a shoot-out ensued between police and the robbers.
Siyanda Xawuka, 34, Dumisani Ngudle 39, and Yongama Ndolombo, 35 were not granted bail after their arrest until they were convicted and sentenced on Monday for robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
Cape Times