/ 7 April 2013

Malema to appear in court for contempt

Malema To Appear In Court For Contempt

Malema will appear in court on Tuesday after the curators of his estate brought the application against him for failing to declare his assets, the Sunday Independent reported.

Cloete Murray from Sechaba Trust and Aviwe Ndyamara from the Tshwane Trust Company were appointed as the curators of his estate in the beginning of March.

Despite a meeting and a variety of correspondence between the curators and Malema and his lawyers in March, Murray alleges Malema has yet to list his belongings.

Malema's lawyer Tumo Mokwena told the newspaper that her client intended on opposing the contempt of court application.

If found guilty, Malema could face a R500 000 fine, a jail term or a suspended sentence.

On March 19, Malema – who is facing a R16-million tax bill – had his Limpopo farm, worth approximately R4-million, seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Medupe Simasiku said at the time that the property was allegedly acquired with the proceeds from fraud, corruption, theft, and money laundering.

The alleged crimes were perpetrated against the Limpopo department of roads and transport, Simasiku said. Alternatively, the property had been used to launder money.

In January, sheriffs seized Malema's Sandton and Polokwane homes. The South African Revenue Service then rejected a R4-million settlement offer and auctioned Malema's assets in the Sandton and Polokwane homes in February.

Malema also faces charges of fraud and racketeering related to the irregular awarding of a R52-million tender to On-Point Engineering in Limpopo. – Sapa