LPC investigates attorney accused of raping minor he 'bought' from mother

The Legal Practice Council (LPC) confirmed that it is investigating Carel Benjamin Schoeman, an attorney accused of repeatedly raping a 13-year-old girl he “bought” from her mother. 

The council said it recently learnt of the criminal charges and was in contact with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on the matter.

“We confirm that the LPC had already been investigating this legal practitioner on three complaints submitted to the LPC by members of the public,” said LPC spokesperson Kabelo Letebele. 

He said the matters they were looking into related to a failure to attend to a matter diligently and bringing the profession to disrepute. “Since the details around the criminal charges came to light, they are also being looked into by our investigations committee.”

Schoeman appeared in the Johannesburg high court on Wednesday along with the 38-year-old mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the children.

He pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including rape, conspiracy to commit sexual acts, facilitating and/or assisting the creation and/or production of child pornography, benefiting from child pornography, child abuse, grooming, compelling or causing children to witness sexual offences among other charges.

Schoeman was granted bail, while the mother who allegedly pimped her two minor children is in custody. 

Letebele said the Legal Practice Act (LPA) requires the council to apply to court for a suspension and/or striking off of any legal practitioner found guilty of serious contravention of the act and/or any laws of the country.

He said the legal practitioners are officers of the court, who are admitted by the court, hence the LPC has to apply to court for a striking off. He confirmed that before this year, no case around Schoeman was received from the NPA by the LPC. 

“In line with the procedures we need to follow as stipulated by the Legal Practice Act, the LPC rules and the LPC code of conduct, the matter is before the investigations committee, who are considering the three complaints that were lodged with the LPC and the committee will also look into the details around the criminal matters he is facing and provide recommendations thereof.”

According to the indictment, Schoeman approached the mother to 'buy' the victim from her in December 2022 and they agreed on R160,000 ... He allegedly raped the child daily, either at a guest house or at the mother's flat in Heidelberg

After their disciplinary processes had been finalised and if the recommendation by the committee was to refer the matter to court for an application to suspend, only a court can order the suspension of the legal practitioner from the LPC, he said.

“Upon determination of the criminal matters that are before the court, if the legal practitioner is found guilty, the LPC will have to consider whether this legal practitioner is ‘fit and proper’ to remain in the roll of legal practitioners, in light of the court outcomes on these criminal charges.”

When the investigations committee and the disciplinary committee complete their process of looking into complaints/cases against the practitioner, they make recommendations to the council to consider the recommendations for either suspension or strike-offs, he added.

“Once council consider the recommendations, the council will pass a resolution to proceed with the application for striking off.”

According to the indictment, Schoeman approached the mother to “buy” the victim from her in December 2022 and they agreed on R160,000. He allegedly made a down payment of R24,000 and also handed over a vehicle for her use.

He allegedly raped the child daily, either at a guest house or at the mother's flat in Heidelberg.

The biological mother, who is accused of forcing her minor children into rape by men in exchange for money, is facing more than 70 charges including rape, trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation of children, grooming, conduct and facilitating trafficking in persons.