War criminal on parole in Bantry Bay

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A DUTCH fugitive convicted of crimes against humanity and selling guns to former Liberian president Charles Taylor will spend the festive period between Sea Point police station and a luxury villa in Bantry Bay, Cape Town after “inexplicably” being granted bail by Cape Town Magistrate’s Court this week.

Labelled in his arrest warrant as a “fugitive of justice” from the Netherlands where he was sentenced to 19 years for gun running for war criminal Taylor, 75-year-old Guus Kouwenhoven has to report to Sea Point police station seven times every weekday.

In addition he is under house arrest between 9pm and 7am during the week, and from 9pm on Friday to 7am on Monday.

During these times he will have the run of his five-storey villa in De Wet Road, Bantry Bay with his ex-model wife who owns Lume Beauty Atelier, a luxury boutique spa in De Waterkant.

Their R90 million residence boasts a rimless pool, ocean views and luxury accommodation accessed via two lifts.

But Kouwenhoven, who claims he is so ill he has three years to live, will not have much time there.

“It’s going to take at least 20 minutes for him to drive there, walk in and sign the bail register,” noted a lawyer who asked not to be named.

“And then it’s going to take him at least 20 minutes to drive back. That gives him about an hour and 20 minutes before he has to get back.

“And he’s got to do this seven times a day. This is insane on every level.”