The Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has
found attorney Vuyani Gwebindlala (52) guilty of stealing R685 400 that was meant for
his client.
Gwebindlala, who is practicing in the Mthatha
district, was convicted of stealing the money, which were funds received in his
Gwebindlala Attorneys trust banking account. He was the sole signatory to
that account.
In March 2008 a purchaser, Angela Schulte, made a
deal to buy a house from the seller, Nokuthula Thetyana-Mngqundaniso.
On 1 June
2008, she deposited a cheque to the amount of R730 000 into Gwebindlala’s trust
account, where it was supposed to be held until such time that the transfer of the
property had been completed and duly registered, and then paid to the seller.
Gwebindlala was legally obliged not to utilize any
portion of the funds for any other purpose other than for which it was given.
However, starting from the date it was deposited to 1 May 2009, the attorney
withdrew various cheques from the said trust account. At the time the amounts
were drawn, the trust account held no other funds.
He only made payments to the total of R44 600 to the
seller and misappropriated the rest of the purchase price for his personal use.
The case has been postponed to 6 August for
sentencing procedures.
