Jeanette Harksen to face music
2003-02-26 11:34
Cape Town - Jeannette Harksen has flown from Cape Town to Hamburg, Germany, where she will stand trial with her husband, Jürgen on charges of fraud amounting to €32m (about R280m).
"It is a bit of a weird feeling going back home, because I haven't been there for 9½ years," she told the Cape Times before entering the international departure lounge.
"I will come back here to Cape Town, of course, because my children are here."
She added: "I will return as soon as my fraud trial is over because I want to bring up my children here."
Harksen said her children were staying with friends and denied rumours that her city-centre boutique, JH Design, had been closed down.
"Everything is organised. I have a manager looking after the shop and it is running."
She is scheduled to meet her lawyer on her arrival in Hamburg.
"My family are wanting to see me and are looking forward to my visit."
Being charged as an accessory
She said she had not spoken to her husband much, but "obviously he's excited that I am coming over".
The German press agency, DPA, reported from Hamburg that the trial of Jürgen Harksen, who allegedly defrauded a series of rich and famous people in his homeland and South Africa in a 12-year period, would concentrate on just three cases.
Prosecutors would produce evidence from three investors who on 80 occasions gave Harksen money to invest. The total amount they lost was equivalent to €17.9m (about R156m).
Mrs Harksen will appear in court and will be charged as an accessory to fraud, a court spokesman said in Hamburg. She is accused of making bank accounts available in her name as a conduit for payments.
- SAPA