Nowhere for Harksen to hide

2003-02-26 23:00

Llewellyn Prince

Cape Town - Should Jeanette Harksen fail to return to South Africa to stand trial on charges of fraud involving R1 million, she will be tried in Germany on the South African charges.

Western Cape director for public prosecution Frank Kahn was responding to news that the wife of deported glamour jailbird Jurgen Harksen had flown to Germany on Wednesday.

She is to stand trial with her husband in Germany on 218 charges of fraud involving R275m.

Harksen is currently out on bail in South Africa for similar charges involving R1m. If she is found guilty and convicted in Germany, local charges against her will be withdrawn for the moment.

The couple's children are in the care of friends in South Africa. Harksen said at the Cape Town airport on Tuesday she plans on returning to South Africa in April.

Kahn said Harksen's case in the Cape regional court was postponed until November and that she will be sent back to South Africa once the case in Germany is concluded.

"We came to an agreement with the German authorities if Harksen breaks her bail conditions and fails to return to South Africa, she will go on trial in Germany on the South African charges," Kahn said.

"If we had refused Harksen permission to stand trial in Germany, charges against her would have expired," he added.

He added the decision to allow Harksen to travel to Germany had been done in consultation with the Harksen estate and police.

Local investigating officer Captain Piet Viljoen said Harksen would be required to report on a daily basis in Gemany to fulfil her bail conditions.

- Die Burger