Kabelo Tlhabanelo
Ernest Sejake’s primary school teacher describes him as a bright pupil and a good learner, and wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d become a talented lawyer when he grew up.
But what she couldn’t have expected is that he’d be arrested for being a fake attorney, who used his sharp wit to cheat people out of their money.
And that one day he would use his skills to con her.
After pulling off several scams, Sejake was arrested in August and granted bail for R10,000. That seemingly didn’t stop him from going on to allegedly rip more people off.
His teacher told Scrolla.Africa that when she was in a car accident, Sejake said he could help her legally.
She said Sejake wanted R8,500, which she gave him, but claims he never helped her.
“He kept on making excuses about the lockdown,” she said.
She said she was shocked when she learned Sejake was nothing but a fake attorney.
Another victim told Scrolla.Africa he paid Sejake R97,000 when he was divorcing his wife.
The man said he trusted Sejake because he won several court cases for the family.
“He won a case for me when the municipality refused to pay me because I am an entrepreneur. I took him as the family attorney and trusted him,” said the victim.
“I have lost money but I am relieved that he has been arrested.”
The victims said they wanted to see Sejake behind bars because he was taking hard earned money from innocent people.
Police spokesman Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said Sejake worked at a law firm.
“One client was defrauded of more than R25,000 by the suspect acting as his legal representative,” said Makhele.
One of Sejake’s regular ploys was to wait in the old address of a law firm – which he had once worked at – after it had moved location. There, he would pick up unsuspecting clients who did not know that the firm’s address had changed.
The police have asked victims to call Sergeant Tebogo Ratlhagana on 079 234 0342 or contact Kroonstad police or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
Sejake will appear in Kroonstad Magistrates Court on 3 May.
