By Karen Breytenbach
A socialite from Constantia who calls herself a baroness and is feared to have fled the country under a cloud of close to R50-million of debt now has a provisional sequestration order against her.
Aleksandra von Maltzan - who, with her husband, Victor, lived in Constantia Heights - is facing legal action from several creditors over millions in unpaid debts.
The provisional sequestration order against Von Maltzan has been granted to Pure Capital Property Holdings by the Western Cape High Court. Her husband was cited as a respondent, but no relief was sought from him because his wife is the registered owner of property on which millions are owed.
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Standard Bank took Von Maltzan to court for R45.5m owed on the luxury property, a Range Rover and a credit card, among other things. The court ordered Von Maltzan to repay the bank and instructed the sheriff of the court to attach her immovable property.
Investec Private Bank also brought a claim against her for close to R220 000 owed to them.
Pure Capital head Alon Kowen said in an affidavit that the couple, who arrived in Cape Town from England in 1999, "enjoyed a lavish lifestyle... and displayed a fondness for expensive cars, clothing and accessories". It appeared, however, that they could not keep up with their obligations.
Kowen said Von Maltzan had deals with Callaghan Collezione for luxury clothing delivered to her between November and January, but failed to pay her R84 000 bill.
Between February and August last year, she made agreements with Parthenon Dry Cleaners, but owes it R4 600.
The two debts were ceded to Pure Capital.
Kowen said Von Maltzan was clearly insolvent because her immovable property was worth R30m and her movable property, including a vehicle, worth close to R850 000, yet she owed Standard Bank R45.5m.
Also, the "inescapable inference" to be drawn from the circumstances of her departure was that she was insolvent.
Her car was found abandoned at Cape Town International Airport, where it had stood for four months.
An attorney from Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, appoin-ted by Kowen, and a deputy sheriff also tried in vain to get hold of the couple.
Alliance Group auctioneers found Von Maltzan's home in a mess, with clothes and shoes strewn across the floor of her two dressing rooms, suggesting she had left in a hurry.
Von Maltzan wrote to Standard Bank before she left, saying she intended to get Investec in Mauritius to help her pay her debts to Standard Bank through mortgages. No such bonds have been registered.
Von Maltzan has until July 14 to show why she should not be sequestrated.
karen.breytenbach@inl.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 6 of Cape Times on July 06, 2009
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