Pleas for bail to be denied to fraud-accused EL attorney
The alleged victims of an attorney accused of scamming five car accident survivors, including a former world boxing champion, want the fraud accused to be denied bail.
Manfred Chinamasa, 52, had his bail bid in the East London magistrate’s court postponed yet again on Thursday owing to load-shedding and court congestion.
He has been in custody since his arrest at his Beacon Bay home on February 7.
The arrest was carried out by the Hawks in conjunction with East London crime intelligence on charges of fraud and corruption relating to the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
Chinamasa faces five counts of theft.
The state is opposing his release on bail.
When the bail bid was postponed last Thursday, Chinamasa faced three counts of stealing from clients.
But during his brief appearance in court on Thursday, senior prosecutor advocate Siphamandla Ngxokolo said the state was adding two more counts.
One of the counts relates to world boxing champion Simpiwe Vetyeka, who had his future cut short by a horrific hit-and-run accident six years ago.
The Mdantsane-born Vetyeka is a former WBA and IBO featherweight champion.
He is also a former IBO super-bantamweight champion.
The driver was never arrested, but Vetyeka successfully enlisted the services of Chinamasa to claim compensation from the RAF.
The matter was settled in 2021 and Vetyeka was awarded a substantial amount.
However, it is alleged that only a fraction of the money was paid to Vetyeka, leaving him with mounting medical bills.
His legal representative, Ian Runchman of Nieuwoudt du Plessis Inc, said the former world champion had hoped to have something to fall back on after his boxing career was ended.
Chinamasa is represented by advocate Dumisani Skoti.
He was admitted as an attorney in the Eastern Cape Division on March 4 2005 and registered with the Cape Law Society.
According to the charge sheet, the first complainant is Zwelinzima Mceka, who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on October 28 2015 on the NU2 Highway Mdantsane.
Vetyeka is the second complainant.
The third complainant is Dr Jane-francis Afungmeyu on behalf of her minor child, Trista Nkwehenui, 7, who was involved in a motor vehicle accident in East London on July 20 2011.
The fourth complainant is Nontuthuzelo Tom on behalf of her late brother, Vusumzi Tom, who was involved in a motor accident on December 31 2013 at Qumza Highway Road in Mdantsane.
The fifth complainant is Khumshile Derrick Mandita, who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on April 25 1996 at or near Rhode on the N2, Mount Ayliff (now emaxesibeni).
The state alleges that all the complainants were assisted by Chinamasa to claim from the RAF.
It is alleged he held four FNB accounts, of which he was the sole signatory.
Chinamasa was legally obliged to hold the money deposited in a trust account and not use the money.
The state further alleges that Chinamasa assisted them on their third-party compensation claims with the RAF and that their matters were settled.
However, Chinamasa allegedly failed to transfer money that was due.
Outside court on Thursday, 63-year-old Mandita from Mthatha, who is wheelchairbound, said they wanted the court to refuse the accused attorney bail.
Mandita was medically boarded by Telkom, where he worked before the accident.
He said when he met Chinamasa, he was a law student at the University of Fort Hare.
“Now that he has been arrested I’m very happy.
“I want the court to not give him bail ... “
Mandita said adapting to a life of disability was expensive.
“I have to go to doctors and so on. That’s why we are compensated.
“I want to meet all the victims to approach the high court to grant us an order that compels the law society to reimburse us all our monies ...
“I wanted to build a house that would accommodate my situation.
“The money would have made my life easier.”
The bail hearing continues on Friday.