Accused appears in court on eight counts of theft

A 66-year-old Barend Philippus Botha was granted R15 000-00 bail upon appearance in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court for theft on Monday, 11 September 2023.

The accused allegedly defrauded six victims of their monies amounting to R3 811 611. According to information, Botha was a practising attorney and sole director of a law firm when he defrauded the victims between 2018 and 2019. Reports suggest that, monies from three deceased estates and various home purchase transactions, were paid into the firm’s trust account. However, the victims never received their dues from the firm. Following investigations by the Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in 2019, the accused was ultimately arrested on Monday, 11 September 2023.

The accused was struck off the roll as a practising attorney by the South Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, after he allegedly failed to account for the victims’ monies. He is expected to reappear in the Klerksdorp Regional Court on Monday, 30 October 2023.

The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the arrest and subsequent appearance of the accused in court. He also commended the Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit for working tirelessly to ensure that the accused is nailed.

Source: South African Police Service