Nampula, individual arrested for fraud involving the illegal practice of law

The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) in Nampula province has arrested a citizen accused of illegally practicing law with the aim of defending criminal cases and thereby defrauding several citizens of large sums of money. According to SERNIC spokesperson in Nampula, Enina Tsinine, the arrest took place on March 8th, following complaints filed by the Mozambican Bar Association, as well as by several victims who claim to have been deceived by the suspect.

According to the official, the individual is accused of illegally practicing law and fraud, as he lacks the training and credentials to practice law. Nevertheless, he presented himself as a lawyer and convinced citizens that he could represent them in legal proceedings, particularly in criminal matters. Authorities reveal that the fake lawyer intervened in at least two cases, a situation currently under investigation to determine the circumstances of his involvement and the potential legal implications.

Investigations indicate that the suspect charged considerable sums for alleged legal services, demanding amounts ranging from 120,000 to 200,000 meticais to defend certain cases in court. Furthermore, the suspect used other strategies to gain the victims' trust, also promising employment in different companies, allegedly in exchange for certain payments, which ultimately reinforced the fraudulent scheme.

SERNIC (National Criminal Investigation Service) reports that investigations are ongoing to identify other possible victims and determine the total value involved in the scams, and the possibility that the number of victims is higher than initially reported cannot be ruled out. Meanwhile, authorities urge the public to verify the registration of legal professionals with the Mozambican Bar Association before seeking legal services, as a way to avoid similar fraudulent situations.