Disbarred lawyer Peet Viljoen has been denied bail by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria in a R27.6 million fraud case. Viljoen appeared in court on Monday for the decision.
Magistrate Nicca Setshogoe ruled that he was a flight risk and ordered that he remain in custody.
Peet Viljoen Bail Denied In Pretoria Court
Viljoen’s lawyer, Andre Steenkamp, had argued that his client was not a flight risk because he voluntarily returned to South Africa knowing he would be arrested.
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The defence offered R200,000 bail and proposed house arrest at Viljoen’s sister’s home in Pretoria. He would also have been required to report to police daily.
Peet Viljoen Faces 400 Charges
Prosecutor Van Zyl opposed the bail application, arguing that Viljoen had previously said on social media that he would never return to South Africa.
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Viljoen was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on 16 June after being deported from the United States. He faces about 400 charges, including fraud, theft, corruption, forgery and uttering.
The charges are linked to an alleged Johannesburg Property Company property fraud scheme. Viljoen will remain at Kgosi Mampuru Prison. His wife, reality TV personality Mel Viljoen, was seen crying after the court delivered its ruling.
