Accused’s wealth makes him a flight risk, court hears

MYSTERY surrounds how Dutch arms dealer Guus Kouwenhoven, 75, acquired his wealth and is among factors listed by the State in opposing his bail in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.

Yesterday, State prosecutor advocate Christopher Burke said Kouwenhoven only disclosed information that would be beneficial to him.

Burke said Kouwenhoven owned and lived in a R90-million, five-storey house overlooking the Atlantic. He said the applicant also owned another fully paid R60m house and recently sold a R12m house.

“His wife owns a luxury spa in which he just invested R6m. He owns three luxurious vehicles. He also said he owns a company, but not what the company does. He does not answer allegations of his friendship with the president of, and his logging rights in, in wartorn Congo-Brazzaville at all. He does not reveal where these millions are coming from.”

The prosecutor put it to the court that the crimes Kouwenhoven was convicted of earned him his wealth. Burke said Kouwenhoven was a flight risk and could travel anywhere including Congo-Brazzaville, in which he said he would not be located.

Kouwenhoven was arrested last Friday. He faces a 19-year jail sentence in the Netherlands for crimes committed in Liberia between 1999 and 2002. He was sentenced in April, in absentia.

Magistrate Vusi Mhlanga reserved judgment until December 19.