Drugs suspect’s family will not inherit

Independent Newspapers

Cape Town - Property in Hanover Park and Lotus River, an Isuzu bakkie, a Toyota Rav 4, along with the contents of five FNB accounts – all linked to suspected Hanover Park drug dealer Bovonita Goliath – were last week declared forfeited to the State, after an application by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).

The forfeiture, by order of the Western Cape High Court, comes four years after Goliath died of natural causes, prompting authorities to withdraw two pending drug-related cases against her.

In an affidavit by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Nicolaas van Zyl, it emerged that Goliath was charged with the unlawful possession of Mandrax after police found the drugs in a BMW she and her friend, Uleen Bailey, had been driving along Vanguard Drive in October 2002.

Less than three years later, in June 2005, Goliath was again arrested after police saw her throw a brown bag which contained rock cocaine out of the window of the Toyota Rav 4 she had been travelling in from Wynberg to Mitchells Plain.

Van Zyl said that both cases were withdrawn after Goliath died in February 2008.

In addition, he said that Goliath and her husband, Kenneth, had also been arrested and paid admission of guilt fines for contravening sections of the Liquor Act, by selling liquor without a licence from their residence in Hanover Park.

The contraventions of the Liquor Act date back to 2002.

From court papers, it emerged that Goliath and her husband bought property in Lotus River in September 2003, and a house in Hanover Park in January 2005, as well as an Isuzu double cab bakkie in January 2006.

An analysis of their bank accounts also showed that large sums of money were deposited over several years.

The couple had no legitimate source of income, and did not declare any taxable income for 2004 and 2005.

The AFU applied for a restraint order on the basis that it had reason to believe that Goliath would be convicted of the drug-related charges. The order was granted in the High Court in August 2006.

However, after learning of Goliath’s death, the AFU applied for a preservation order, which would allow it to attach Goliath’s assets, then place these in the control of a curator.

It did this on the basis that her husband and their children would not be entitled to inherit from her estate, because her assets constituted the proceeds of crime.

The preservation order was granted, and last week the AFU returned to court to ask that the assets be declared forfeited to the State.

Judge Pat Gamble granted the forfeiture order on Thursday.

Weekend Argus