Joburg High Court disbars advocate who defrauded State attorneys of R34 million

The Joburg High Court has disbarred an advocate who swindled the State Attorney’s Office of R34 million in billing for 500 consecutive days of work.

This on the back of a case brought by the Johannesburg Society of Advocates.

Over and above the fact his billing would have meant he worked through every weekend and public holiday during this period, at his going rate of R2,500 an hour, it also would have meant he worked more than 26 hours a day.

In 2018, Hassan Kajee was suspended pending an investigation.

Then earlier this year, the Special Investigating Unit also announced that he had been arrested and charged.

The High Court has found the Johannesburg Society of Advocates has – on a balance of probabilities – proven Kajee’s dishonesty and his overreach and that he is not a fit and proper person to practise as an advocate.

It’s found he’s exhibited “a serious flaw” in that he’s “shown no remorse”.

And the court says “absolute personal integrity and scrupulous honesty” are demanded of legal practitioners and that in the light of his conduct, the public, the State, and fiscus should be protected from Kajee.

As a result, his name’s now been struck from the roll of advocates.

He’s also been ordered to pay costs in the application to have him disbarred.

-EWN

In other news – Interesting things to know about Thembinkosi Lorch’s ex-girlfriend, Nokuphiwa Mathithibala

South African soccer star who plays for Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana, Thembinkosi Lorch made headlines on Tuesday, 6 June, when he was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Nokuphiwa Mathithibala.

The former couple made headlines in September 2020 when Sunday World reported that Lorch was arrested for physically assaulting Mathithibala. Lorch – who currently shares a one-year-old baby with actress Natasha Thahane – was arrested on 7 September 2020 and granted immediate bail in the amount of R2 000. Learn More