Attorneys Fidelity Fund to appeal Joost judgement
The Attorneys Fidelity Fund says it will appeal the judgement by the North Gauteng High Court in favour of Springbok rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen.
The court on Wednesday ordered that the fund should pay back the R385 000 to van der Westhuizen, which was paid into the trust account of his former attorney Robert Klinkenberg.
Klinkenberg, who was Van der Westhuizen's former business partner and lawyer, allegedly embezzled money from the rugby legend.
Judge Lester Adams ruled that the money should be paid back.
The Attorneys Fidelity Fund, however, says they have studied the judgement and have advised that there are sound grounds for an appeal.
"The Attorneys Fidelity Fund`s Board of Control appreciates the circumstances pertaining to Mr Joost van der Westhuizen, as well as the public sentiment in support of Mr Van der Westhuizen. However, the Attorneys Fidelity Fund`s Board of Control has a duty to ensure that the provisions of the Attorneys Act 53 of 1979 are applied consistently and without favour of any particular person," it said in a statement.
The fund says its legal team has been instructed to prepare an application for leave to appeal the judgement and the filing of the notice of appeal will have the effect of suspending the aforesaid judgment.