Top city lawyer charged with R2.9m theft out on bail

AN UMHLANGA attorney has been charged with R2.9 million theft and is out on bail.

Vishal Junkeepersad was arrested on Friday by officers of the police’s commercial crime unit. He appeared in the Durban Commercial Crime Court on Friday and was granted bail of R10 000.

Junkeepersad is well-known in Durban’s legal fraternity and last week he represented murder accused Sateesh Isseri in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

In that case, Isseri has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Faieka Esop Ali, eight years after she disappeared.

It has been alleged that Junkeepersad, whose firm deals with high court and magistrate’s court litigation, conveyancing and other legal matters, did not release funds to the complainant from his trust account.

It is alleged that his firm had handled a claim on behalf of the complainant, but failed to inform him when it was paid into the trust account.

However Junkeepersad disputed this and said he would plead not guilty.

It has been reported that Junkeepersad’s attorney, Anand Nepaul, told the court on Friday that his client had given the complainant guarantees about the money and that he would deny that he had misappropriated the money.

Junkeepersad, who has been practising since 2004, said he had co-operated with the investigators.

He had presented himself at the investigating officer’s office so that he could be charged, and appear in court, and that he had been assured that his bail would not be opposed.

Junkeepersad said he would not evade his trial, he did not have travel documents and he had strong ties to Durban.

His case was adjourned to next month.