Court row over serial fraudster's land

Razor's Kalay Maistry and NTT Data's Marian Scala named in Provoke Media’s Innovator 25 EMEA

Danette Breitenbach

The Mercury reports that land confiscated from a serial fraudster is at the centre of a court row between a church desperate for a home, the curator tasked with selling it on auction, and a competing bidder - racehorse owner and Jacob Zuma ally Roy Moodley.

The site was owned by fraudster Yusuf Omarjee, who was given a wholly suspended sentence and a fine of R2.5m in December 2010 for defrauding banks of about R39m.

When Omarjee's property, now attached by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), was put up at public auction in July last year, it was bought by Pillay, on behalf of the church, for about R5.3m. He paid a R35 000 deposit, followed by a further R150 000, but struggled to get finance for the balance. Initially, curator Trevor White, had granted verbal extensions for the balance of the purchase price to be paid, but then he "unilaterally cancelled the sale agreement", demanding payment.

Opposing Pillay's application, White said he had given the church an indulgence after Pillay had begged him. He said he had contacted the auctioneer and asked him to inquire from other bidders if they were still interested, and an offer had come in from the trust. White said the agreement with the church had been cancelled and transfer documents would be lodged soon. According to The Mercury, the matter was adjourned until early next month. No interdict was granted preventing transfer.

Read the full article on www.iol.co.za.