Aids-nutrition couple deny fraud allegations

JOHN and Kathy Ellis, who have been accused of funding an extravagant lifestyle with investors’ money, spent R95 000 on flowers for their daughter’s wedding, which cost an estimated R2.4-million.

Last week, the Sunday Times reported that investors of Edge to Edge Global Investments — a company that claimed to have patented a “life-changing” Aids nutrition pack — were demanding a detailed account of their investments.

The investors, who bought shares worth R70-million in the company and recently asked the High Court in Durban for per- mission to liquidate it, say their investments financed the wedding in March last year.

The wedding costs included R489 000 to build a new guest toilet and bathroom in their home’s garden and R132 000 for a giant marquee.

But the Ellises have disputed the allegations, claiming that they sold personal assets to bankroll the nuptials.

In affidavits filed in the high court, John Ellis said: “It would appear . . . that there might be an allegation that I might have stolen money from [Edge to Edge] and used that money to pay for my daughter’s wedding.”

Kathy Ellis added: “[I covered] the entire cost of my daughter’s wedding from funds that I raised by the sale of my personal assets.”

Kathy’s personal bank statements submitted in court show that she made several payments totalling R94 200 for flowers. She also paid R11 000 for makeup for the bridal retinue and R27 500 for a wedding coordinator.

Investors argued last week that despite the company’s poor sales figures, the Ellises had enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle, which included overseas holidays.

It also emerged that the couple had spent R5-million renovating and decorating their R8.9-million home on Marriot Road, one of Durban’s exclusive addresses.

Jennifer Etchells, the company’s former accountant and an investor, said in an affidavit that the company had sold about 15 nutrition packs.