Peet Viljoen denied bail in R27.6m fraud case; magistrate cites flight risk

Disbarred lawyer Peet Viljoen will remain in custody after a Pretoria court denied him bail in a R27.6 million fraud case. The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court delivered the decision on Monday, with the magistrate finding Viljoen to be a flight risk.

Court ruling and custody

Magistrate Nicca Setshogoe ordered that Viljoen stay in custody. He will remain at Kgosi Mampuru Prison.

Charges and arrest

Viljoen faces about 400 charges including fraud, theft, corruption, forgery and uttering, linked to an alleged Johannesburg Property Company property fraud scheme. He was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on June 16 after being deported from the United States.

Arguments for and against bail

The defence, led by lawyer Andre Steenkamp, argued that Viljoen was not a flight risk because he voluntarily returned to South Africa knowing he would be arrested. The defence offered R200,000 bail and proposed that Viljoen remain under house arrest at his sister’s home in Pretoria and report to police daily.

Prosecutor Van Zyl opposed bail, citing previous social media posts in which Viljoen had said he would never return to South Africa.

Personal reaction

Viljoen’s wife, reality TV personality Mel Viljoen, was seen crying after the ruling.

What happens next

With bail refused, Viljoen will continue to be held in custody while legal proceedings continue.