Court hands advocate convicted of corruption a suspended sentence

An advocate convicted of corruption has been handed a suspended sentence in the Bellville Regional Court.

Following an investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, Advocate Phuthi Mothemane was arrested and found guilty for trying to bribe a State prosecutor.

Mothemane was convicted in June this year, before being sentenced on Monday.

Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi said Mothemane was sentenced to nine years imprisonment - which was suspended for five years.

The advocate will also be under correctional supervision for three years.

“It was reported that on 23 September 2022, a member of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was approached by Mothemane and he offered R50 000.00 to file representations in favour of his client and make the state's case to disappear."