White River – Fifty-year-old Mpumalanga lawyer Daniel Themba Mabunda accused of stealing money he claimed, on behalf of clients, from the Road Accident Fund (RAF), has been released on R5 000 bail.
Lawyer Mabunda of (D&M) Inc. Attorneys was released on Tuesday after he appeared in the White River Magistrate’s Court, near Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit), in Mpumalanga.
The accused is facing charges of fraud and theft of money paid by the RAF for his clients’ claims.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thandi Tshabalala said: “The accused received money from RAF on behalf of his two clients.
However, Warrant Officer Tshabalala said the accused failed to pay the full benefit to the clients.
“Instead, he used the money for his own benefits without the knowledge or consent of the clients.”
Warrant Officer Tshabalala said after the accused submitted the first claim to the RAF on behalf of his client, he was paid R858 968.
“He only gave the beneficiary R486 146.22,” lamented Warrant Officer Tshabalala.
“The remaining money, which exceeded the maximum 20% an attorney may legally deduct from each claim, he kept for himself.
“On the second claim submitted to RAF, an amount of R468 366.29 was paid, and the actual beneficiary never received anything of the payment.”
The case against lawyer Mabunda was postponed to 23 January 2024.
