Gupta compound raid linked to R250m Estina dairy probe

A PORSCHE Cayenne‚ a Lamborghini Gallardo‚ two Ford Rangers, three Mercedes-Benzes‚ a BMW 5 Series‚ and a Volkswagen Polo Vivo. Oh‚ and a helicopter. These are just some of the “moveable assets” the police were searching for during a raid at the Gupta family compound in Saxonwold in Johannesburg yesterday. Other locations‚ including Lanseria Airport‚ were also set to be raided‚ sources said.

Law-enforcement agencies descended on the compound shortly before 2pm.

Officials from the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit‚ the SAPS‚ SA Revenue Service and Civil Aviation Authority were among those present. About 20 vehicles were parked outside the compound‚ some marked. Depending on when the Saxonwold raid ended‚ Lanseria was the next location.

Documents seen by TimesLIVE reporters showed not just the vehicles targeted by the agencies‚ but also immovable properties they wanted to pounce on. These included properties and farms in Mpumalanga‚ the Free State‚ KwaZulu-Natal‚ Cape Town and Johannesburg.

In total‚ more than 30 properties across the country were in the crosshairs.

This comes after the NPA obtained a restraint order for R250million against those charged in relation to the Estina diary project in Vrede in the Free State.

Among those targeted in the order are Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments‚ Islandsite Investments 180‚ Confidents Concept and Sahara Computers.

NPA spokeswoman Bulelwa Makeke confirmed yesterday’s raids on the Gupta compound were linked to this court order.

The authority said the order was obtained on April 11 in the Bloemfontein High Court. The R250-million is linked to alleged theft‚ fraud and money laundering. This is a provisional amount pending the criminal trial and convictions.

“The said order is a result of ongoing criminal investigations by the Hawks (DPCI) which led to the arrest and institution of criminal prosecution against the aforesaid entities and individuals‚” the NPA said in a statement.

“The AFU will apply for a confiscation order for the recovery of the said amount and/or any related amounts.” – TimesLIVE

‘ The order is a result of ongoing investigations by the Hawks