The R5,3-million insurance policy on Taliep Petersen’s life, to which first his widow Najwa and later his minor daughter were beneficiaries, has not yet been paid. This was revealed in the Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The court heard a bail application launched last week by Najwa and one of her three co-accused in Taliep’s murder, Abdoer Mjedi.
Najwa’s two other co-accused, Waheed Hassen and Jefferson Snyders, had elected not to apply for bail.
Investigating officer Captain Joash Dryden told the court the proceeds of the life policy would have been paid into Najwa’s First National Bank account in Namibia, had the murder investigation not intervened.
Dryden said the Petersen couple, before Taliep’s murder, also had fixed properties, including one in the suburb of Lakeside. The Lakeside property had been sold for about R1-million and, without her husband’s knowledge, Najwa had arranged for the proceeds to be paid into her Namibian account.
Dryden said Najwa had a 25% share in a family business in Namibia known as Dirks Fruits — the largest supplier of fresh fruit in Namibia.
Magistrate Robert Henney said he had a sworn statement in which Najwa said she no longer had the 25% interest in the business.
Dryden replied: ”That’s a lie.”
Henney said he could not simply accept Dryden’s assertion about this. Dryden replied that he had obtained this information from an investigation into Taliep’s financial affairs.
Asked if the police could monitor Najwa and Mjedi’s movements if they were released on bail, Dryden said a severe shortage of staff made it difficult. He said Najwa often travelled to Namibia and Malaysia, and although he had her passport, people could easily enter Namibia without going via border posts.
Dryden said Najwa was an agent for a loan company, and introduced clients in need of money to a firm called SA Property Finance. He said the last income she received from this company was R41 500.
Because of the income from the Namibian business, she would not suffer financially if kept in custody, he said.
Earlier, the court heard that the Cape Flats community would be outraged if Najwa and her alleged accomplices were released on bail.
Dryden told the court: ”If Peterson and Emjedi get bail, the community will be outraged, and if the deceased’s wife gets bail the community will not hesitate to harm her. Her release will also undermine the community’s trust in the criminal justice system, as well as the safety and security of the community. I cannot guarantee her safety.”
The hearing continues on Wednesday. — Sapa