Top lawyer dumps clients

The lawyer of the Swakopmund estate agents, who are facing a criminal charge of fraud involving N$6.7 million, misappropriated from a Democratic Republic of Congo military general, withdrew from the trial this week. This is after the accused indicated that they are not in a position to pay for his service. The High Court on Tuesday accepted the application by Advocate Louis Botes to withdraw his services from the accused Erwin Spranger and his former wife, Lorinda Heidi Spranger due to lack of funds. On Tuesday, Botes appeared on behalf of the accused as a friend of the court. The two are accused in that they, during the period from 10 February 2010 to 6 July 2010, misappropriated General Francois Olenga's funds totalling N$6.7 million. The money was said to have been transferred by Breadfeld Trade Limited on behalf of Olenga into the account of Kintscher Estate Agents and Auctioneers. The banking details supplied to Olenga purported to be Spranger's trust account while it was actually his business account. Both Spranger and his wife had signing rights for this bank account. According to the State, once the money was paid into the said bank account, the Spranger couple stole, misappropriated, or converted all of Olenga's money for their own use. State Advocate Eric Moyo, during the pre-trial disputed the dissolution of the marriage and alleged that the accused persons were at all material times a married couple. According to him, they practice as estate agents under the name and style of Kintscher Estate Agents and Auctioneers with their place of business at Woermann Brock Mall in Swakopmund. Judge Naomi Shivute advised the Spranger couple of their right to apply for legal aid or to try and acquire a lawyer of their choice as they are in the process of selling their house. Erwin Spranger informed the court that they will heed the advice but stressed that it will be very difficult to get a lawyer to appear on their behalf. Moyo, though he did not object to the postponement, emphasised that bringing witnesses from outside of Windhoek and outside of the country in this case is a protracted process. “We will appreciate it if we are placed in a position to know when the case is ready for trial,” he stated. The charge sheet alleges that Erwin Spranger during January 2010 agreed with Olenga that the general would pay monies over to him for the purpose of developing his properties in Namibia. Spranger allegedly misrepresented to Olenga that he would keep the money in trust on the general's behalf. It is further alleged that Spranger misrepresented to Olenga that he would spend the money on expenditures expressly approved by Olenga. Spranger would upon Olenga's demand, pay back the said funds to him, according to their agreement. Judge Shivute postponed the matter to 15 February 2018 for case management. FRED GOEIEMAN

Top lawyer dumps clients

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

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Top lawyer dumps clients

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

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