By Zelda Venter
High Court Reporter
Oodles of noodles landed a Mooikloof businessman in hot water with the law, resulting in him having to approach the Pretoria High Court to get bail after he was arrested.
But Miguel Carreira said he didn't steal R4 million worth of "speedy" Chinese noodles.
He explained to the court that it was a business deal gone wrong and that his opponents had orchestrated his "unlawful" arrest.
He told Acting Judge Jody Kollapen that his arrest and detention was "more akin to a kidnapping than an arrest".
The court granted Carreira R12 000 bail, subject to certain conditions, which include that he does not dispose of the 96 000 boxes of noodles. The State was given permission to collect the noodles from his premises.
He must also report twice a week at the Brooklyn police station.
Carreira said in court papers he was arrested for theft and held in custody, to "coerce him into agreeing to sign over rights to people he was in business with".
He was up to now held at the Sandton police station.
Carreira claimed his business partner Alan Gouveia, whom he had known for the past 30 years, was behind it all.
One of his businesses imports and sells noodles, Carreira said. The noodles are imported from China and packaged to his specifications as he holds the rights to the brand under which these noodles are sold.
A few months ago he entered into an agreement with Gouveia and his company, in terms of which they would finance the importing of the noodles and sell them to him.
He would buy them at cost price, but they would also be able to sell the noodles to which he held the rights.
"The intention was that we would make money from selling this product."
Carreira said he received the 96 000 boxes of noodles in May/June this year. He delivered stock to his customers and all went well. "It appears I was too successful in selling stock - at least as far as my new business partners were concerned."
He said Gouveia told him that his financiers were unhappy with Carreira's high sales and they wanted him to immediately pay for the stock. Carreira refused, saying that was not part of the deal.
He was arrested on Friday while delivering stock to a client. "I was stunned. I did not know why I was being arrested. Knowing now what I know, I dispute that the police made an arrest... It is a kidnapping."
Carreira said Gouveia's lawyer later arrived at the police station to see whether they could resolve the situation. "He said Gouveia would agree to my release and would not persist in any charges if I forthwith paid cash for the noodles I sold."
He said the lawyer also made other business demands, which amounted to him handing his business over to Gouveia. Carreira said he refused and the police in turn refused to give him bail.