Johannesburg - A multimillionaire from Lenasia is being investigated for allegedly siphoning R42 million from his company’s accounts.
But the man said he would fight the charges, which he claimed were an orchestrated attempt to push him out of Africa Cash and Carry, where he has worked as a financial director since 2002, and take his shares in the company.
Cassim Aysen was arrested last Friday after allegedly stealing money from the business and was supposed to spend the weekend in police custody, but had to be moved to Milpark Hospital when he allegedly fell ill in the police cells.
He appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Monday morning on eight counts of theft and fraud, and was granted bail of R100 000 after a formal bail application.
Aysen has brought in legal heavyweight advocate Barry Roux SC - who is representing Oscar Pistorius in his murder trial - onto his defence team in a bid to fight the allegations.
In an affidavit read by Roux during his bail hearing, Aysen said charges against him were trumped up and orchestrated by the chief executive of Africa Cash and Carry and complainant in the matter, Edrees Hathurani, and fuelled by business disputes.
“I have not committed a fraud or a theft,” Aysen said in his affidavit.
Aysen’s affidavit also said he has not been at work since June 8 because of the dispute, which was not explained in court, but Aysen said in his affidavit that the full details will be revealed when his trial began.
Aysen also went on to say that he holds 25 percent of shares in Africa Cash and Carry through a family trust, which - according to the affidavit - has an annual turnover of R2.9 billion.
Outside court, Roux said he was not allowed to comment and referred the questions to Aysen’s attorney, Yusuf Ismail.
“The complainant (Hathurani) is abusing the criminal justice system to settle civil and commercial disputes,” Ismail said.
The case was postponed until August 30 for further investigation.
Aysen’s affidavit also detailed his health problems, business interests and family situation.
His bail application claimed he was on several different types of medication that could cause further health problems if he was unable to access them while in custody.
The Star