Convicted attorney Jacques Thomas du Preez has officially began serving his five-year jail term following his arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Unit in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape on Friday.
Du Preez‚ 55‚ was sentenced by the George Magistrate’s Court in November 2015 for fraud and theft charges after allegedly swindling a client out of about R900‚000 which was deposited into the Du Preez Law firm Trust account.
He subsequently appealed the sentence and was out on bail pending the outcome of his appeal. However in November 2016 his appeal was unsuccessful and he was ordered through his attorney to report to a Correctional Facility‚ said Hawks spokesman Captain Lloyd Ramovha.
“Du Preez failed to adhere to the order‚ a warrant of arrest was issued and he was sought‚ culminating in his capture on Friday by the elite unit‚” Ramovha said.
“It is further alleged that‚ whilst awaiting the court’s decision on his appeal‚ the accused reportedly went on coaxing R5 donations from his Facebook followers and locals under the guise that it was to pay for one of his needy client’s legal fees‚ further apparently stating that this was in exchange of the free legal advice he had given to the locals over the years‚ this separate matter is however still being probed‚” Ramovha added.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks‚ Major General Nombuso Khoza‚ said she was pleased that Du Preez has started serving his sentence and that justice has been served.
“We are committed to rooting out rogue elements from our communities regardless of their standing in society‚ without fear or favour‚” she said.
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