(Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
Another five defendants are expected to stand in the dock together with Peet Viljoen (57), the controversial businessman and lawyer who was previously removed from the role.
That’s what Chad Thomas from IRS Forensic Investigations told the media on Thursday after Viljoen’s first appearance in the specialized commercial crime court in Pretoria.
Viljoen is facing 400 charges which include fraud, theft, falsification of documents and corruption. The charges against him stem from a case that dates back to 2010. He is accused of fraudulently selling 46 state properties from the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC).
Although these properties were transferred and sold, the JPC allegedly received no payment, resulting in significant losses. According to the indictment, the properties that were illegally sold amount to more than R27 million.
According to Thomas, the cases against Wiets Lourens Nell, Edwin Maringa and three more accused, who acted together with Viljoen with a common goal, will be placed on the court roll.
This case has apparently been provisionally withdrawn in 2024.
According to the indictment, Viljoen and his co-accused (who have not yet appeared in court) are suspected of having committed these activities between January and March 2010.
Mel and Peet parade before the proceedings. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
During the transfer of the properties, Viljoen and his co-accused forged documents that included various sales agreements.
Lumka Mahanjana, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Pretoria, told Maroela Media on Thursday that it is further alleged that the six allegedly paid a deputy registrar of the Department of Land Affairs a reward to register the transfer deeds of the properties.
Mahanjana says this information came to light, after the Johannesburg High Court carried out an audit of Viljoen’s immovable assets and pointed out the contradictions.
Maroela Media earlier reported that the state indicated that it intended to oppose Viljoen’s release on bail and was not ready to proceed with this application on Thursday due to address verifications.
According to the state, Viljoen provided two addresses – one in the North West and one in the Western Cape.
Willem van Zyl, the prosecutor in the case, made it clear that the police had already been instructed to verify the address in the North West after the court proceedings.
Van Zyl says the state is also waiting for additional information from the US consulate, which could affect the case.
“It concerns a visa application from Viljoen, its scope, how long it was valid and when it was no longer valid.”
Also Read: Photos | Peet Viljoen briefly in court, remains behind bars
Peet and Mel in court. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
The court also heard that the state intends to use Viljoen’s social media posts in which he made racist comments and lashed out at the South African judiciary as arguments during his bail application.
Viljoen’s Instagram and TikTok profile were also changed from public to private on Thursday evening. You must first accept his friend request before you can see his profile.
Adv. Johan van Dyk, for the defence, also indicated that he was not ready to start with Viljoen’s bail application, because apparently there was not enough time to consult.
The case against Viljoen has been postponed until next week when he is expected to apply for bail. He remains in custody.
Viljoen was apprehended by the Hawks at the OR Tambo international airport on Tuesday evening after he was deported from America on Monday because his tourist visa had expired.
Viljoen and his wife, Mel, were arrested in Boca Raton in the USA in March this year after an investigation revealed that the couple were allegedly involved in shoplifting.