Guptas’ Saxonwold compound raided
A PORSCHE Cayenne‚ a Lamborghini Gallardo two Ford Rangers‚ three Mercedes-Benzes‚ a BMW 5 Series‚ a Volkswagen Polo Vivo and a helicopter.
These are some of the moveable assets the police were looking for during a raid at the Gupta family compound in Saxonwold in Johannesburg yesterday.
Law-enforcement agencies descended on the compound shortly before 2pm. The officials were from the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit, the SAPS‚ SA Revenue Service and Civil Aviation Authority.
Private security at the compound initially refused to let the authorities in‚ but later relented.
Documents seen by Tiso Blackstar reporters showed the immovable property being targeted includes properties and farms in Mpumalanga‚ the Free State‚ KwaZulu-Natal‚ Cape Town and Johannesburg. The NPA obtained a restraining order for the amount of R250-million against those charged in relation to the Estina dairy project in Vrede in the Free State. Among those targeted in the order are Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments‚ Islandsite Investments 180‚ Confident Concepts and Sahara Computers.
NPA spokeswoman Bulelwa Makeke confirmed that yesterday’s raids on the Gupta compound – which Tiso Blackstar understands will move on to Lanseria Airport – were linked to this court order.
The authority said yesterday the order was obtained on April 11 in the Bloemfontein High Court. The R250-million is allegedly linked to theft‚ fraud and money laundering. This is a provisional amount pending the criminal trial and convictions.
“The AFU will apply for a confiscation order for the recovery of the said amount and/or related amounts‚” the NPA said.