KUGOMPO CITY – A 51-year-old attorney accused of allegedly misappropriating more than R3.2 million in Road Accident Fund (RAF) compensation appeared in the KuGompo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 October.

Vuyisile Magqabi briefly appeared in court following his arrest earlier today by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

Magqabi is facing a charge of theft relating to RAF compensation allegedly entrusted to his law firm for the benefit of its clients.

The case stems from a compensation claim lodged by a complainant through Magqabi Attorneys following a motor vehicle accident involving the complainant and her daughter on the N2 between Makhanda and Peddie.

According to the Hawks, the RAF processed the claim and paid the compensation into the law firm’s trust account between 2020 and 2022.

The complainant allegedly continued making enquiries about the status of the claim and was allegedly informed by Magqabi that the matter was still under consideration.

Concerned about the delay, she allegedly approached the RAF directly to establish the status of her compensation.

She allegedly discovered that the RAF had already paid the compensation into the law firm’s trust account in 2022. The discovery prompted further enquiries, after which the matter was referred to the Hawks for investigation.

The Hawks said its investigation established that more than R3.2 million had been paid into the law firm’s trust account in connection with the compensation claim.

Further investigative findings allegedly revealed that approximately R1.4 million was paid to the complainants, while the remaining amount was allegedly misappropriated for the benefit of Magqabi.

Magqabi was granted bail of R10,000 during his court appearance.

The matter was postponed to 10 November for transfer to the KuGompo Commercial Crimes Court.

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