/ 27 April 1999

HARKSEN RELEASED FROM POLLSMOOR

FUGITIVE German businessman Jurgen Harksen was released from Cape Town’s Pollsmoor Prison on Monday after he paid R1-million bail, a Cape Town newspaper reported on Tuesday. Harksen, who is being sought in Germany in connection with fraud and other charges, said he would remain in South Africa and fight for his rights. Harksen’s luxurious Constantia estate, Klaasenbosch, was knocked down for R8-million in a high profile auction which attracted a flurry of international bids at the beginning of the month. However, during the seven-day confirmation period, a higher bid of R9,03-million was received by Harksen’s liquidators and was matched by the auction bidder.