Lawyer gets 8 years for theft

A Cape Town attorney has been sentenced to eight years in jail in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for stealing from clients.

Eslin Meyer, 63, was convicted on charges of theft and failure to keep proper accounting records of funds received by an attorney in a trust account.

Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Eric Ntabazalila said Meyer was the owner of Eslin Meyer Attorneys and had offices in Mitchells Plain and Gordon’s Bay, where he represented clients with matters pertaining to the Road Accident Fund (RAF) and administration of deceased estates.

Meyer had three trust accounts and two business accounts.

Meyer’s clients filed claims against RAF and filled in all documentation supplied to them along with all supporting documents, which they submitted.

Ntabazalila said after administering the claims, RAF made payments into Meyer’s trust accounts in favour of the claimants.

Ntabazalila said Meyer presented false invoices to clients where he only paid a portion of money owed to them and embezzled the balance.

In some instances, he would keep the entire RAF payment for himself.

One client was paid out R1.1 million but only received R402 413, while Meyer transferred R732 354 into his own account.

In another instance, a client did not receive his R373 365 claim.

Between July 2006 and February 2007, R1.1 million was paid into Meyer’s law firm’s trust account; however, he used this money for personal and business expenses.

Meyer pleaded innocence but the State believes the motives for the crimes were greed and self-interest.

African News Agency