Trust is a rare commodity in South Africa, and the legal fraternity has just dealt it another massive blow. Solomon Slom, an 82-year-old veteran attorney who spent 24 years operating out of prestigious law offices, is trading his comfortable life for a cold prison cell after receiving an effective 10-year direct prison sentence for stealing nearly R40 million from a client's escrow fund.
The sentence was handed down in July 2026 at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge, following a comprehensive investigation by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.
Key Details of the Systematic Theft:
• The Target: While working as a director at Fluxmans Attorneys, Slom was tasked with managing a high-profile client's escrow account holding R45 million, which was locked in a legal dispute pending the fulfillment of contractual conditions.
• The Execution: Instead of protecting the client's money, Slom systematically bled the account over five years between 2019 and January 2024. He utilized fictitious payment requisition forms to execute 145 separate fraudulent transfers directly into a bank account he held power of attorney.
• The Collapse: The elaborate scheme finally unraveled when one of the contracting parties involved in the escrow agreement raised questions. An internal audit initiated by Fluxmans exposed the trail of missing millions, leading to Slom's immediate resignation, an unsuccessful self-harm attempt, and his subsequent arrest.
• The Verdict: The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) successfully secured a conviction on all 290 charges brought against him—comprising 145 counts of theft and 145 counts of money laundering. The court sentenced him to 10 years for theft and 10 years for money laundering, ordered to run concurrently.
While watching an elderly man spend his remaining years behind bars carries a somber note, the public outrage stems from witnessing how easily those in high-backed leather chairs can abuse deep structural trust while ordinary South Africans fight to survive.
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Do you think the 10-year concurrent sentence is appropriate for an 82-year-old attorney who systematically stole R39.8 million, or should his professional status have carried a harsher penalty?
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