Hawks spokesperson, S’fiso Nyakane, says the 39-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday in the city after he was allegedly approached by the family of nine convicted robbers earlier this year.
The family wanted him to act as a mediator between them and a High Court judge in a case of diesel theft and racketeering.
He says the families wanted the judge to acquit the accused. According to him the Free State Law Bar Council of Advocates already disbanded the suspect from practising at the time.
The suspect allegedly received R80 000 from the family of the convicted robbers. The family, however, was under the impression it was a deposit for R500 000 which they had to give to the judge to have the nine accused freed.
The disbarred advocate apparently misled the family into believing that he can pay money to the involved judge to acquit the nine men.
Nyakane says the convicted robbers will be sentenced in October this year. More arrests are expected to be made. – Christal-Lize Muller
