Suspects Karel Wynand Bezuidenhout, his wife Annie Magdelena and brother Johann Marius appeared before the Lime Acres Magistrates Court over an alleged money laundering scheme that defrauded Anvor Engineering Works and the Department of Economic Affairs of more than R1.4 million.
Anvor Engineering Works accused of money laundering
In a statement, Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi revealed that the trio was arrested in the wee hours of Thursday at a residence in Danielskull, Northern Cape, as a result of an intelligence operation led by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
According to Mnisi, Karel, the alleged mastermind behind the million-rand scam, wormed his way into the pockets of the Economic Affairs Department around May 2017.
Anvor Engineering Works was awarded R1 million in funds during that period and based on a financial paper trail left by Karel, it’s believed he “transferred the said amount into his personal bank account.”
“The suspect was then confronted by his management and he transferred back R400 000 and kept the balance,” Mnisi explained.
It’s still unclear, at this stage, what happened to the remaining R600 000 that was left in Karel’s personal bank account. From what we understand, Anvor Engineering Works suffered a total loss of R1.4 million and the main culprit believed to be the beneficiary of the money laundering scam is 47-year-old Karel.
“It is further alleged that whenever Anvor Engineering Works and Trading receives payments for work done, the suspect would therefore transfer the money to his wife and his bother from the business account,” the Hawks revealed.
Much has yet to be unveiled in the money laundering case made against the Bezuidenhouts. At this time, it is still unclear how much of the engineering company’s money was allegedly funnelled to Annie and Johann.
Moreover, in addition to the R600 000 that was never paid back to Anvor Engineering Works, it’s yet to be detailed how Karel allegedly filtered more than R800 000 from the company’s bank account.
Mnisi confirmed that “all suspects were released on R5 000 bail each and the case has been postponed to 19 January 2022 to Kuruman Regional Court.”
