Pretoria - Former Sappi chief executive, Eugene van As, is claiming R1.7 million from ADT Security after robbers broke into his luxury Hyde Park home in Joburg and stole items valued at R1.1m.
Van As, now retired, was injured in the attack on him and his wife while they were having dinner in the kitchen.
Apart from claiming for the lost items, Van As is also claiming for his medical expenses and the trauma counselling he and his staff had to receive.
He is also claiming R265 342 he had paid for a trip to Antarctica, which had to be cancelled.
He and his wife were set to leave on holiday the next day.
Van As is blaming ADT, claiming the security system was faulty which is why the thugs could break into their home.
The security company from time to time repaired his complicated security system, which included a 24-hour surveillance camera showing anyone entering the premises, an alarm system and beams.
He said the company was repairing the system from January 19 to January 26, 2012 - the day of the incident.
He told the High Court in Pretoria that, unknown to him, the system did not work when the workers left that day.
He and his wife were having dinner shortly after 8pm, when three gun-wielding robbers overpowered them.
Their dogs did not bark beforehand, as they were inside the house with the couple.
The elderly Van As suffered multiple injuries.
The shocked couple and their staff had to receive counselling.
Van As said he had entered into a contract with ADT that the company would repair the perimeter movement detection system and see to it that the floodlights would automatically switch on if intruders entered.
The contract also stated that in case of a distress signal, the alarm would go off, which would alert the security company that there were intruders.
None of this happened that night, Van As said.
It appeared the robbers gained entry by jumping over the wall.
Van As said ADT installed his security system incorrectly and that was why it did not work that night.
But the security company was adamant that the robbery was not due to its fault. Its lawyer said when the workers left, the system was up and running.
ADT had over the years told Van As that a different system had to be installed.
He did not want to accept this advice, but supplied the beams he wanted installed. ADT insisted Van As could not now blame the company as he - against its advice - had supplied the detection beams.
The trial continues.
Pretoria News