THE Rustenburg Regional Court has rescheduled the trial of EFF councillor and former North West provincial legislature member Betty Diale (52) to 28 November.
Diale was informed by the court that her representations were rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and that the case was ready for trial.
A warrant of her arrest was previously issued for failing to appear in court on 26 September, and also failing to provide reasons for her absence.
An enquiry was held on her absence and the court subsequently accepted her medical certificate as proof for her absence.
Diale was re-arrested on 6 October.
All necessary documents were provided to her in preparation for trial as she indicated that she would represent herself during proceedings.
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She is facing six charges of theft, totaling approximately R700,000, which were allegedly stolen from Road Accident Fund (RAF) claimants.
Police reports reveal that the Legal Practice Fidelity Fund received several complaints from the RAF claimants, whose payments were deposited into Diale’s trust account.
These claimants alleged that the money did not reach them after the payout and reported it to the police for investigation. Diale practiced as an attorney during the alleged commission of these crimes between 2009 and 2011. She was subsequently charged with six counts of theft in June 2021.
The Legal Practice Council has struck her off the roll, preventing her from practicing as an attorney.
Diale told Daily Sun that she would allow the law to take its course.
"I don't want to complicate the matter by saying too much as it is already at the hands of the law," she said.
