A nationwide manhunt has been launched for Andrew Stephens, a lawyer who allegedly misappropriated more than R150m through the abuse of his law firm’s accounts and his clients’ trust. A Weekend Argus report says the US-born lawyer had been working as financial director of Sandton-based law firm, Dadic Attorneys, since 2011.

However, as of last week, IRS Forensic Investigations, the Hawks, the Attorneys Fidelity Fund and the Law Society of SA are conducting investigations into his sudden disappearance, as well as that of the millions he had allegedly been misusing for dodgy investments.

IRS’ Chad Thomas said he had sent formal correspondence to the Law Society of the Northern Provinces as well as to the Attorneys Fidelity Fund to advise them of the case and the probability that a claim against the fund would be initiated – based on the fact that Dadic Attorneys was allegedly used as a conduit for the suspect to commit the fraud.

‘IRS also submitted a report in terms of section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act to the reporting officer at the Hawks head office,’ he said.

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