DA welcomes probe into Gupta lawyer

Ajay and Atul Gupta File photo

Ajay and Atul Gupta File photo

Published Jun 21, 2017

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The DA on Wednesday welcomed the investigation into the Gupta family's lawyer, Gert van der Merwe, over his alleged involvement in corruption and money laundering.

It was earlier reported that the Law Society had instituted an investigation into van der Merwe after he admitted to playing a part in laundering monies in a corruption case involving about R16 million.

If found guilty, van der Merwe could be suspended or have his name struck off the roll.

The investigation was prompted by a news report on how van der Merwe had turned State witness in the case involving former Limpopo MEC for health and ANC national executive committee member Miriam Segabutla and a businessman.

It is alleged that van der Merwe’s attorney trust account was used to launder monies from the businessman to the MEC.

In 2013, Segabutla was arrested for tender fraud alongside businessmen Jonny Lucas and Pieter Erasmus.

Van der Merwe confirmed that he was also arrested in 2013 and that he had subsequently filed a Section 204 affidavit and had co-operated fully with the National Prosecuting Authority in the matter.

The DA, in a statement, confirmed that the law society had decide to probe van der Merwe, at the party's request.

"Van der Merwe wants to be indemnified from prosecution in a R16-million corruption and money laundering case he is accused of being part of, yet van der Merwe’s claim that he did not “knowingly, intentionally or actively participate in any criminal activities” contradicts what he submitted in the Section 204 affidavit," the party said. 

The party said it looked forward to the investigation's findings, adding that should it prove that van der Merwe had failed to meet the high ethical standards expected, the DA would push for him to be struck off the roll.

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