Bogus lawyer fined
2003-04-10 20:58
Johannesburg - A Johannesburg man who pretended to have legal qualifications and worked as a legal advisor to three concerns, including telecommunications giant MTN, was fined R120 000 by a city magistrate on Thursday.
Jerome Robert Lombard, 37, pleaded guilty to three fraud charges, admitting they were committed between 1995 and 2001.
According to evidence submitted in accordance with new legislation which allows plea bargaining, the three businesses did not suffer any prejudice as a consequence of Lombard's lack of qualifications.
The charges relate to Lombard's fake law degree certificate, which he used to gain employment.
Lombard obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1990 and registered to study towards a LLB, but did not complete the course.
- SAPA