Compiled by Barbara Whittle
Early in April, the outgoing Co-chairpersons of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA), Busani Mabunda and Richard Scott issued a press release calling on attorneys Ronald Bobroff and Darren Bobroff to return to the country and take accountability for their actions.
Earlier, the Law Society of the Northern Provinces (LSNP) noted with concern that the Bobroffs, who were facing serious charges of overcharging clients and related fraudulent actions, had allegedly absconded from South Africa to Australia.
The LSNP stated that it had already instituted legal proceedings against the pair and their co-director in the law firm, Ronald Bobroff & Partners Inc, to have them struck from the roll of attorneys and a curator had been appointed to the firm in order to protect the interests of the firms’ clients. The judgment of the court was awaited.
The LSSA, as the national representative body of the attorneys’ profession in South Africa, said it placed on record that it did not condone the actions of attorneys who act unethically. The LSSA was concerned that Messrs Bobroff had chosen to leave the country rather than take accountability for their actions, and did not heed the call by their regulatory body, the LSNP – under whose jurisdiction they fall – to return and face justice. ‘This conduct is highly deplorable and unbecoming of members of the attorneys’ profession,’ said Mr Mabunda and Mr Scott.
They added: ‘Such conduct brings our noble and honourable profession into disrepute. As attorneys and officers of the court, there is a higher duty on us to uphold the administration of justice.’
The LSSA echoed the call by the LSNP for Messrs Bobroff, if they purport to be the honourable members of our esteemed profession that they claim to be, not to be fugitives of justice, but to do the honourable thing and answer to the allegations against them relating to their professional conduct, including the pending criminal charges.
Compiled by Barbara Whittle, communication manager, Law Society of South Africa, barbara@lssa.org.za
This article was first published in De Rebus in 2016 (May) DR 20.
