An 81-year-old former attorney, Solomon Slom, has been released on R50,000 bail following allegations of swindling a client out of R39 million. The charges hold severe implications for his professional legacy and future legal proceedings.
Slom, once a director at Fluxmans Attorneys, is accused of unauthorized withdrawals from a trust account. Spanning from 2019 to 2024, these illicit transactions were reportedly orchestrated through 145 separate withdrawals.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 81-Year-Old Man Murdered In Front Of His Badly Injured Wife During House Robbery
The funds, intended for an escrow account as part of a subscription agreement involving multiple parties, were instead diverted for personal gain.
The discrepancy was brought to light when a participant in the escrow agreement requested a bank statement, revealing a deficit of R39 million. This discovery led to further investigations by Fluxmans and law enforcement authorities.
Upon uncovering the fraud, Slom was imminently arrested and appeared before the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
Given his advanced age and the gravity of the charges, he was granted bail under strict conditions. Slom is scheduled to reappear in court on September 12, 2024, as the investigation proceeds.
NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane highlighted the fraudulent activities that implicated Slom, stating that fictitious requisition forms were used to withdraw funds from the escrow account without authorization. Further inquiries are being conducted by Captain Khubone to fully understand the extent of the deceit.
This case is not isolated. In another prominent example, a former senior manager of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Major-General Advocate Thuto Gaogakwe Phefo, was convicted of accepting a R48,000 bribe from a job applicant. Such cases underscore the importance of transparency and integrity within both legal and public service sectors.
Slom’s case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for misconduct within trusted institutions, prompting calls for stringent oversight and accountability measures.
