Raybin Figland's so-called sexting contradictions spark another probe

George's Cllr Raybin Figland is facing a disciplinary process for allegedly providing two contradictory versions of the sexting events between him and a school learner in 2021.

- Alida de Beer

On Friday 27 June, the George Council approved a recommendation that disciplinary action be taken against the former deputy mayor following the tabling of a third report on the matter, by Nash Vandayar and Associates, which draws the conclusion that there are 'clear and material contradictions' between Figland's versions in two earlier reports.

These are a report by Schröter Attorneys, dated 31 January 2024, and a second by the Federal Legal Commission (FLC) of the DA, dated 20 February 2024. According to the recent Vandayar report, "Both of the versions presented by Cllr Figland to the respective investigating bodies, one a total denial and the other qualified admissions, cannot both be true."

The Vandayar report states that in the Schröter report, "Cllr Figland was willing to testify under oath that the messages were not his, and that he did not have a sexting relationship with a schoolgirl. He accordingly denied the allegations in totality. Schröter's report included that there is a lack of reliable evidence [and] therefore recommended that no disciplinary hearing be held."