Bobroffs' partner in court for theft
A business partner of Joburg-based lawyers the Bobroffs has been charged with fraud or an alternative charge of theft.
|||Johannesburg - A business partner of the Bobroffs - the Joburg-based lawyers who have fled the country after being accused of overcharging clients claiming from the Road Accident Fund - has been charged with fraud or an alternative charge of theft.
Stephen Bezuidenhout, 60, who is a director of Ronald Bobroff & Partners, briefly appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after handing himself over to police the same morning. He was granted bail of R20 000 with stringent conditions.
These include handing over his passport to authorities and not applying for other travel documents while his criminal case is pending. He has also been instructed to sign in at Fairland police station on Mondays between 8am and 5pm.
According to the charge sheet, Bezuidenhout is accused of taking about R225 000 from the company in 2009, saying it was for the payment of a client. But instead, he allegedly deposited the money into his home-loan account.
On Tuesday, Elaine Bobroff, 68, the wife of his business partner Ronald Bobroff, appeared in court and was granted bail of R50 000.
This was after her bank account had apparently been used for illegal money laundering transactions, one of which exceeded R500 000, making the alleged crime a schedule 5 offence.
Prosecutor Adele Carstens told the court that investigators had been forced to arrest her after Ronald, their son Darren and daughter-in-law Lisa had fled to Australia. But her lawyer, Dawie Joubert, argued she had no knowledge of the alleged crimes committed using her account, and that there was little evidence she was personally involved.
On Wednesday, Ulrich Roux from BDK Attorneys confirmed that Ronald, Darren and Lisa Bobroff were in Australia, but denied they have acted in an unlawful manner as they have never seen an arrest warrant out against them.
“We confirm that our clients have not had to answer to any charges brought against them and that we have not been provided with or had sight to any warrants for their arrest which have allegedly been issued,” Roux said.
He said the Bobroffs left South Africa without being stopped or questioned by immigration authorities or the police and their exit was, therefore, legal as it did not contravene any restrictions on their freedom of movement.
Roux said his clients would provide their full co-operation and would answer any queries if they were requested to do so by the police or the National Prosecuting Authority.
Bezuidenhout’s next court appearance will be in July.
karishma.dipa@inl.co.za
angelique.serrao@inl.co.za
The Star