The R95m personal injury lawyers Ronald and Darren Bobroff stole from road accident victims may never be returned to SA.

It has been reported that the fugitives escaped to Australia ahead of their pending arrest on charges related to overcharging their Road Accident Fund clients through illegal fee agreements.

The Constitutional Court dismissed their application for leave to appeal against an SCA judgment which found the money was the proceeds of crime and should remain frozen.

Moneyweb reports that the Bobroffs last year reached a secret settlement with Israel to dodge criminal prosecution, which saw the Israeli Government seize about R70m of the money and drop criminal charges related to money laundering against the father and son duo in return.

The Bobroffs retained the balance of R25m.

However, it appears the Bobroffs are unhappy with the forfeiture of the R70m to Israel. They are taking it on review, with Darren Bobroff claiming in court papers that he was ‘intimidated’ and ‘coerced’ into signing it.

As a result, no funds been returned to SA despite the SCA ruling in May last year that they were the proceeds of crime and must be forfeited to the state.

Israeli authorities didn't notify the NPA or the SA Reserve Bank before reaching the settlement.

The Department of International Relations & Co-operation has reportedly not yet responded to Moneyweb’s questions about whether it was informed before the settlement was reached.

Richard Spoor, the Bobroffs’ SA attorney, was reluctant to comment on the settlement.

‘The agreement to forfeit moneys to the Israeli authorities is the subject of review proceedings in Israel, client will not comment on those,’ (sic), he said. 

The settlement followed the Israeli authorities instituting criminal proceedings against Darren Bobroff related to suspected money laundering.

The Israelis also launched an application to seize assets in Australia, and these charges were subsequently withdrawn.

Full Moneyweb report