Attorney jailed over property transfer funds

An admitted attorney from Middelburg who was responsible for the transfer of properties, was sentenced to an effective 8 years behind bars.

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Port Elizabeth - An admitted attorney from Middelburg who was responsible for the transfer of properties, was sentenced to an effective 8 years behind bars in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday.

Denise Van der Ryst is expected to appeal her sentence of 8 years and 6 months for the contravention of the lawyers act handed down by Magistrate Louis Classen.

Van der Ryst was required by law to maintain a trust account wherein she had to deposit and keep all the money held in trust by her pertaining to her practice.

However Van Der Ryst used the money meant for transfer duties and other costs for her own personal gain.

She was released on bail of R5000 pending her application for leave to appeal and will be back in court on August 5.

African News Agency