National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi has secured a R4.7 million order against one of the six people arrested during a R15m drug bust in Derdepoort, Tshwane earlier this year.

Henry Craill, 32, was among the six suspects arrested in February after law enforcement authorities uncovered a drug syndicate in the capital city.

The group appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court after they allegedly sold steroids, scheduled medicine, stimulants, and other performance-enhancing drugs via the internet.

According to Batohi’s papers filed at the Gauteng High Court, Tshwane, Craill’s nearly R751,000 held at Absa and another R519,000 in the name of GEO-Zone Consulting CC is now forfeited to the state.

Another amount of nearly R3.5m in Craill’s Investec Bank account has also been forfeited to the State. Batohi applied for and was granted a preservation of the property order in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca).

The order pertains to Craill, in his personal capacity, and in his capacity as a member of Geo Zone Consulting in Pretoria and all persons who may have an interest in the property.

“If you have an interest in the property, you should understand that it is now at risk. You are advised to obtain legal advice on whether your interest can be protected and, if so, on how to protect it. You are notified that the NDPP will, within 90 days of publication of this notice, apply to the high court under section 48 of the Poca for a forfeiture order,” reads the court papers.

In addition, the preservation order will remain in force until the application for a forfeiture order is finalised and until any forfeiture order that is made is satisfied.

The court appealed to anyone intending to oppose the application for a forfeiture order or intends to apply for an order excluding their interest from the forfeiture order in respect of the property must enter an appearance in terms of the order. Interested parties have been asked to make an appearance and comply with the requirements and must be delivered to the Office of the State Attorney.

“If you enter an appearance in terms of the order you will be entitled to be given 14 days notice of the application by the applicant (Batohi) for a forfeiture order in respect of the property,” the high court explained.

The court warned that if interested parties fail to enter an appearance in terms of the order or to comply with the requirements, they will not be given notice of the application for a forfeiture order and will not be entitled to appear at the hearing of the application.

“You may, on good cause shown (including the non-availability of any other suitable remedy to protect your legitimate rights or interests), on three days notice in urgent instances and at least seven days notice in other instances to the applicant, and within eight days of becoming aware of the order, apply for reconsideration of the order,” the court ordered.

Additionally, parties are specifically advised that even if they intend to apply for reconsideration of the preservation order in the case and must in addition comply with they intend to oppose the forfeiture application at a later date.

“Failure to do so can result in a forfeiture order being granted against the property by default and without further notice to you,” the court stated.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

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