Disgraced lawyer showed no remorse, says official
A PROBATION officer who conducted interviews with disgraced former lawyer Thobela Qampi yesterday described him as arrogant and said he had shown no remorse after stealing thousands of rands from clients.
Qampi, 36, of Sydenham, was convicted of fraud and theft after stealing nearly R400 000 from clients who had paid him mon- ey for various properties and transfer costs while he pretended to be a practising estate agent through his business, Qampi Properties.
The court heard that several of these clients were ruined financially as a result, as many had borrowed money to buy the properties.
Sonwabile Mavuso, a social worker asked to compile a probation report ahead of sentencing, said: “The accused demon- strated signs of the utmost arrogance and said if the court sends him to jail he will not pay back the money.”
This indicated Qampi was not remorseful about his actions. “If you show remorse, you cannot be arrogant. He has no remorse whatsoever,” Mavuso said.
Despite this, Mavuso recommended a sentence of correctional supervision.
But prosecutor Lionel Kroon said Qampi had a previous con- viction and had received a sentence of correctional supervision in June after stealing R40 000 from a client’s trust fund – money meant for the sale and transfer of a property.
Kroon said this was no deterrent as Qampi had then accepted thousands of rands from the complainants defrauded in the cases currently before court.
Mavuso said: “When I spoke to him, he said he did not mean to cause permanent financial losses. He took the money meaning to replace it again.”
But Kroon said none of the complainants were repaid. “We are dealing with several years now where he did not pay any of the money back,” Kroon said.
Mavuso said Qampi did not tell him of his previous conviction. The only reason he had recommended correctional supervision was due to Qampi’s minor child.
He had interviewed Qampi’s family and none of them were able to care for the 12-year-old boy. Despite Qampi supporting nearly all of them financially, none could take him in if he were to receive a prison sentence.
Mavuso said the boy was at a boarding school in Sterkstroom, but would have to leave as only the first term had been paid for. He said Qampi’s grandmother was too frail to care for him, while his mother and girlfriend could also not do so.
Defence attorney Kuban Chetty said Qampi had a close bond with his son who would be sent to a children’s home if Qampi was imprisoned.
Chetty said Qampi confirmed he had appeared arrogant during Mavuso’s interview because he had been named The Herald’s “Hooligan of the Day”.
“He will discuss this when he testifies,” Chetty said.
The matter was postponed until today.