A 52-year-old female attorney, Chupjana Lekoloane Chueu, facing a charge of fraud, appeared before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 26 November 2024. She was granted bail of R3000-00 and the case was postponed until 30 January 2025 for further investigation.
The suspect was arrested after allegedly defrauding a 36-year-old woman of a substantial amount of cash paid by the Road Accident Fund (RAF). The victim had been involved in a motor vehicle accident in 2016 and later filed a claim with Chueu’s law firm. The RAF made a payout to the attorney’s account, but the victim never received the funds.
In March 2021, the victim inquired with the RAF and discovered that a payment of over half a million rand had been made into the attorney’s trust fund two months prior. Despite attempts to contact the attorney, the victim was unable to reach her. The matter was eventually reported to the police, and a case of fraud was opened at the Lephalale Police Station.
The case was transferred to the Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, and a warrant for Chueu’s arrest was issued earlier this month, subsequent to a lengthy investigation. The suspect was arrested on Monday night, 25 November 2024.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the arrest, stating that it will serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar fraudulent activities.
