NPA goes hunting for SA’s ‘stolen’ money in Dubai
The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has been granted a court order to go search for millions allegedly siphoned off by the Gupta-family to the United Arab Emirates.
The hunt for R169 million of South Africa’s money in Dubai has started.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) believes the Gupta-linked Gateway Limited stashed the alleged proceeds of crime in the United Arab Emirates.
The state was granted the court order by the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein.
According to spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, a curator has been appointed to look for the millions - arising from the Estina Dairy Farm project.
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Shuping says before the curator is able to start searching for the stash in the United Arab Emirates, he will first have to apply for recognition as a legal practitioner in that country.
The AFU is confident that they will find what they are looking for despite the courts previously ruling in favour of the Gupta family.
In at least three separate court battles the courts could not find reasonable grounds that those implicated will be convicted of a crime, as alleged by the NPA.
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Last month the court released assets worth R250 million belonging to the family following the NPA’s decision to freeze it.
“What they are tracing it R169 million rand that the Asset forfeiture Unit is saying is the money that was deposited to this company called Gateway Limited,” says Shuping.