Disbarred legal practitioner Lerata Shadrack Mashee (50) appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Monday, 23 February 2026, facing charges of fraud, money laundering, and contravening the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014.
Mashee was arrested on the same day in Botshabelo following a joint operation by the Hawks, the Tactical Response Team, and Crime Intelligence. He had been evading capture since September 2025.
The charges stem from complaints lodged with both the Legal Practice Council and the Hawks by multiple victims. It is alleged that between 2019 and 2022, complainants deposited a cumulative amount of R890,000 into Mashee’s bank accounts. The payments were made after the victims responded to advertisements for houses for sale in a local newspaper, with Mashee purporting to act as the conveyancer.
Investigations revealed that the complainants grew suspicious when the transfer of properties was not finalized. It was later established that Mashee was not certified to practice as a conveyancer.
The case has been postponed to 2 March 2026 for a formal bail application.