Pietermaritzburg - Former prominent Pietermaritzburg attorney, Sundeep Singh, who was disbarred following allegations of theft of over R800 000, appeared briefly in the city’s magistrate’s court on Wednesday, when his case was transferred to the regional court for trial.
Singh was struck off the roll of attorneys in April last year following an allegation by a client, local widow Radha Govender, that he stole R876 736 – money she was due to receive from the Road Accident Fund following her husband’s death.
Following his disbarment, Singh had been working as a freelance consultant on land claims/restitution cases with the permission of the law society. Singh was admitted as an attorney in 1990. He was struck off for “unprofessional, dishonourable and unworthy conduct” in 1993, after being found guilty of theft of R249 000 from a deceased estate.
In December 1993, Singh fled to India with his family, but returned to South Africa three months later, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with two years suspended.
He was re-enrolled nine years later, and was practising as a conveyancer and attorney until his disbarment and arrest last year.
Singh is on bail of R10 000. He intends pleading not guilty to the theft charge.
The matter will come before the regional court on March 9.
Daily News