The mother who allegedly killed her son, and injured her twin boys before committing suicide lost her life savings in an alleged Ponzi scheme just before her death.
Family of Aneesa Arrison confirmed she invested money in 4th Power Investment, which is currently being investigated by the Hawks.
The business’ assets have been frozen since last year, and no money has been paid to any investors since September.
The Daily Voice can reveal that Aneesa, 43, received R1 million from her husband Ameen’s pension fund.
The school teacher died of a brain tumour two years ago.
According to her cousin, Nazeem Layloo, the mom of three used some of this money to pay off her house, buy a car cash and built a swimming pool.
She invested the rest with 4th Power.
Nazeem said Aneesa had admitted to him that she had financial problems and was being investigated by the Hawks, but denies that this was the main reason behind her suicide.
4th Power Investment Association, which was estasuicblished to “protect” investors’ interests during the probe, yesterday released a statement confirming Aneesa was an investor, and that she had made contact with the investigating officer.
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“Investors such as Ms. Aneesa Arrison’s source of income has been stopped (due to the Hawks investigation) and it is clear that the deceased could possibly have experienced financial difficulties,” the statement read.
“It is heartbreaking that the Hawks’ actions, and specifically the investigating officer, one Lt Col Elizabeth de Villiers, could have led to this tragedy.”
It said Aneesa wrote to De Villiers, saying she was happy with 4th Power Investment and that her money was in good hands.
“(In turn) the investigating officer’s emails to the deceased are unsympathetic and full of false allegations.”
The association said the investigation was ongoing.
“We trust and hope that the Hawks stop playing cat and mouse games with the case with regards to the ownership of 4th Power Investment and directors because they must realise they are gambling with people’s lives.”
Aneesa, a former supervisor at Shoprite Checkers Fairbridge Mall, shot herself in the head on Saturday morning inside her home in Orange Street, Bernadino Heights.
Waseem, 21, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in his bedroom
Fourteen-year-old twins, Yaqoob, who pretended to be dead after being shot in the hand, and Yusuf, who was also shot in the head, survived the bloodbath.
Nazeem said Yusuf is expected to undergo surgery at Tygerberg Hospital as soon as the swelling on his brain goes down.
Yaqoob, a Grade 10 pupil at Bernadino Heights High School, has since returned to school.
Nazeem believes his cousin was being taken for a ride by unscrupulous people.
“4th Power Investment is part of the problem but not the whole problem,” he said.
He said Ameen’s life insurance policy was worth R1 million, and Aneesa paid off her house.
“She came back to me a few months ago and said she invested money and things were not going too well, she was being investigated by the Hawks.
“I told her the money was legal, it came from her husband. I can tell you, that is besides the other people involved, she was played by other people.”