/ 31 August 1999

HEATH TACKLES RUGBY BOSS

THE Heath special investigation unit is investigating evidence linking South African Rugby Football Union president and acting judge Silas Nkanunu to fraud related to compensation paid to road accident victims. The Heath unit is considering at least 15 cases, involving millions of rands, where Nkanunu and his Port Elizabeth legal firm are alleged to have defrauded road accident victims out of damage awards paid out by the Road Accident Fund (third party insurance). The scam usually involves lawyers abusing their position of trust by withholding some of the compensation paid out by the Road Accident Fund, and paying out only a part to the victims.