J Arthur Brown in hot water with SPCA

Cape Town. 220212. Former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown arrives at the Cape Town High Court to face several charges of fraud involving millions. Picture Leon Lestrade. Story Bianca.

Cape Town. 220212. Former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown arrives at the Cape Town High Court to face several charges of fraud involving millions. Picture Leon Lestrade. Story Bianca.

Published Mar 7, 2013

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Cape Town - J Arthur Brown, the former Fidentia boss who is alleged to have fleeced funds set up for widows and orphans, has more legal problems.

The SPCA says Brown and a friend are liable to pay nearly R20 000 to the organisation for costs incurred when it cared for the three pets that Brown abandoned about two years ago. SPCA chief executive Allan Perrins said justice had been served.

“The SPCA is pleased to announce that it has finally managed to obtain judgment against Mr J Arthur Brown and his friend, Ms Lize van den Berg, in respect of the costs incurred by the SPCA in caring for a sheep, a pony and a pig of Mr Brown’s during 2011,” Perrins said.

Brown, who is on trial in the Western Cape High Court on charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and theft related to the Fidentia scandal, was ordered to pay R19 024.66 plus interest for the costs of caring for the animals.

“Mr Brown and Mrs Van den Berg jointly and severally assumed responsibility in paying for these costs; they were also ordered to pay these costs after the conclusion of arbitration proceedings that they submitted themselves to,” Perrins said.

Perrins said Brown abandoned his pets at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in Grassy Park in 2011, leaving it to pick up the costs.

The animals were at the shelter for 14 weeks, which cost about R20 000 for expenses such as food, transport and farrier work.

The animals, which were acquired for Brown’s daughter, are a dark chestnut Welsh Cob pony, a lard cross pig, and an old Dorper ewe.

The animals are now with new owners.

Perrins said that in November 2010 Brown had booked the animals into the SPCA’s boarding facility while he moved house from Hout Bay to Durbanville.

Brown was supposed to collect the animals but never did.

The SPCA had tried to contact him and left messages with friends, but all attempts were futile, Perrins said at the time.

“A warrant of execution can now be issued against Mr Brown and Ms Van den Berg’s movable goods and the Cape of Good Hope SPCA is optimistic that it will recover the R19 024.66 plus interest and costs that is due to it,” Perrins added.

A default judgment was taken against Brown and because he did not defend the matter it was granted in favour of the SPCA.

A warrant of execution was also issued against Brown. The sheriff of the court now has to serve Brown with the warrant if he fails to pay the money or his assets could be attached.

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Cape Argus

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