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Johannesburg - One of South Africa's richest men, Christo Wiese, is appealing a UK court decision to confiscate R7.2m seized from him at London City Airport last year, according to a report on Monday.
Wiese, the chairperson of Shoprite Holdings [JSE:SHP], is appealing the decision of the City of Westminster magistrate's court to confiscate £675 000, which the court believed was associated with criminal activity, Business Report said.
UK customs confiscated the money from Wiese in April 2009.
Earlier this year, Wiese, told Sapa he was carrying the money from his safety deposit box in London to his safety deposit box in Luxembourg, and that both countries were EU members.
According to Business Report Wiese, in a statement issued on Friday evening, said he was appealing the ruling.
“A decision has been taken to appeal the ruling in which the court made an order for the forfeiture of the money on the grounds that the order is legally flawed and unjustified on the evidence,” the statement read.
According to the report, a statement issued on Thursday by the UK Border Agency said Wiese "claimed he had transported the cash out of South Africa in the form of travellers cheques to avoid exchange controls there".
The UK Border Agency can confiscate cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act if it suspects the money comes from, or was intended for use in, criminal conduct.
Wiese, the chairperson of Shoprite Holdings [JSE:SHP], is appealing the decision of the City of Westminster magistrate's court to confiscate £675 000, which the court believed was associated with criminal activity, Business Report said.
UK customs confiscated the money from Wiese in April 2009.
Earlier this year, Wiese, told Sapa he was carrying the money from his safety deposit box in London to his safety deposit box in Luxembourg, and that both countries were EU members.
According to Business Report Wiese, in a statement issued on Friday evening, said he was appealing the ruling.
“A decision has been taken to appeal the ruling in which the court made an order for the forfeiture of the money on the grounds that the order is legally flawed and unjustified on the evidence,” the statement read.
According to the report, a statement issued on Thursday by the UK Border Agency said Wiese "claimed he had transported the cash out of South Africa in the form of travellers cheques to avoid exchange controls there".
The UK Border Agency can confiscate cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act if it suspects the money comes from, or was intended for use in, criminal conduct.
