Doctor Sobetha, a man who was arrested last year for impersonating a lawyer, has absconded from court. He had been representing a murder accused in court when he was apprehended in Bethal, Mpumalanga last year. Sobetha (31) appeared Bethal Magistrates Court in March last year and was subsequently released on R5,000 bail. It's alleged that he dropped out of school in grade 10.

WANTED

Following his release on bail, Sobetha attended a few court cases and absconded. Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Hawks said Sobetha's case was postponed to 14 October 2023 but he absconded from court and a warrant of arrest was issued. "A warrant of arrest was authorised on 13 February 2024 for Sobetha's arrest," Sekgotodi said.

According to Sekgotodi, Sobetha's arrested came after he tried to represent a wanted suspect who had just been arrested in February last year. The suspect, Mhlabuyaxega Mntungwa (37), was charged for the murder of Nkosinathi Emmanuel Ngcongo (34), a former manager at Sam Holdings in September 2019.

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CAUGHT DUE TO DISCREPANCIES ON AFFIDAVIT

Charged with murder, Mntungwa appeared before the Bethal Magistrates Court and was held in custody. Sekgotodi mentioned that Mntungwa's case was postponed to 24 March 2023 and that on the day of his court appearance, he was represented by Sobetha, who is not a qualified lawyer.

Sekgotodi says that during Mntungwa bail application discrepancies in an affidavit presented to the court raised suspicions. "A preliminary investigation revealed that Sobetha lacked any qualifications to practice law. Consequently, he was arrested by the Hawks for impersonating an attorney," she added.

Provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Gerber, is requesting members of the public to assist with information regarding the whereabouts of Sobetha.