former attorney

The former attorney, Collen Butiki Rihlamfu (48) of Rihlamfu Attorneys, from Mabopane, defrauded six different people in Pretoria. Photo: NPA

Former attorney pleads guilty to theft of more than a million rand

The former attorney was convicted of six counts of theft of more than one million rands and was struck off the roll as an attorney.

former attorney

The former attorney, Collen Butiki Rihlamfu (48) of Rihlamfu Attorneys, from Mabopane, defrauded six different people in Pretoria. Photo: NPA

A Pretoria former attorney was convicted of six counts of theft of over a million rand by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, after defrauding people in Pretoria.

FORMER ATTORNEY INTENDED ON DEFRAUDING HIS CLIENTS

The former attorney, Collen Butiki Rihlamfu (48) of Rihlamfu Attorneys, from Mabopane, defrauded six different people in and around Pretoria pretending to be a conveyancer and a practising attorney.  

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjane, Rihlamfu was struck off the roll as an attorney in Gauteng on 07 March 2018, because of his unethical practices.  

Even after that, he continued to defraud six different complainants between June and August 2018, in and around Pretoria.

“The complainants would deposit money into Rihlamfu’s bank account, in hopes that he will assist them with their house purchases, in terms of transfers and issues of title deeds. Rihlamfu would take the money and use it for his benefit.”

said Mahanjane.

In court, the former attorney pleaded guilty to all charges preferred against him. 

In his guilty plea, he said that he took money from the buyers for his personal use and that he intended to steal and defraud them. 

He further said that he knew that no transfers were going to happen and no title deed was to be issued by the deed’s office. 

The magistrate accepted his guilty plea and found him guilty of all counts. 

The case was postponed to 8 June 2022, for sentence proceedings. 

The head of the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU), Advocate Marshall Mokgatlhe said he was pleased with the conviction.

ALLEGED HAWKS IMPOSTOR DENIED BAIL 

Meanwhile, Stanley Ewulu (42) an alleged Hawks imposter was denied bail by the Pretoria Specialized Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, 17 May.

Ewulu (42) and his co-accused Peter Molomo, who was granted bail during their second appearance on 22 March, are facing charges of extortion and corruption.

Ewulu, a Nigerian national from Sandton is also facing a charge of being illegally in the country and will appear again in court on 3 June 2022.

According to Mahanjane, Ewulu and Molomo approached the complainant and introduced themselves as Hawks investigators from the Pretoria office. 

They further demanded R300 000 to destroy a case docket that was opened against him.

Adding to that they promised to also hand over a vehicle that belonged to the complainant as well as his refugee documents that were confiscated by the Sunnyside Police.

ALSO READ: Alleged Hawks imposter remains in police custody