Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
4 March 2009
Today Director Piet Byleveld of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and
his team arrested Nicole Romy de Villiers, Jean Paul de Villiers and Pierre
Joubert de Villiers after obtaining warrants for their arrest. Acting in close
co-ordination with the Police, the Johannesburg Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of
the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) seized assets belonging to the
suspects, their respective companies and trusts at the same time. The AFU acted
in terms of a restraint order obtained from the Johannesburg High Court.
It is alleged that the De Villiers trio committed 31 counts of fraud,
alternatively theft and 15 counts of money laundering, by misappropriating R1,4
million from a law firm in 2007.
After an intensive financial investigation by the AFU, assets in excess of
the amount of the fraud were frozen as unexplained wealth owned by the trio.
The assets include: five immovable properties, a host of luxury vehicles,
including an exclusive Bentley Turbo, 13 bank accounts, household items, 16
companies and three trusts. The successful arrest was the result of extensive
investigations conducted by Byleveld and his team.
The suspects will appear in the Special Commercial Crimes Court on 5 March
2009.
Enquiries:
Tlali Tlali
NPA Spokesperson
Cell: 082 3333 880
Issued by: National Prosecuting Authority
4 March 2009
