The National Prosecution Unit (NPA) confirmed on Friday that warrants had been issued earlier in the week for the arrest of the late Markus Jooste, former CEO of the collapsed Steinhoff group.
According to a statement from the NPA, the warrants were validated on Wednesday, two days before Jooste’s death. A warrant for Stephanus Johannes Grobler, a co-director of Steinhoff, was issued on the same day.
The NPA worked hand in hand with the Hawks in their investigation into alleged irregularities at the Steinhoff Group.
“The Hawks and NPA teams worked closely together as a team – which spanned several jurisdictions – with the main aim of securing a prosecution,” the statement said.
After the warrants were authorized, the investigative team made sure in advance that all routes out of the country were monitored in case the two suspects tried to flee.
“The routes were secured before the two’s defense team was approached to ensure that they (Jooste and Grobler) appear in court.”
The charges against Jooste and Grobler include, among other things, fraud, a pattern of racketeering and breaches of the Financial Markets Act by Steinhoff International Holdings.
Grobler already appeared in the specialized commercial crime court in Pretoria on Friday.
RNews reported earlier that the police had started an inquest after Jooste apparently took his own life on Thursday.
The 63-year-old Jooste apparently shot himself at Kwaaiwater on Hermanus, near his home at Voëlklip.
“He died shortly after his arrival at a private hospital from a gunshot wound to the head,” Lt. Col. Police spokesman Malcolm Pojie confirmed earlier.
Jooste died a day after the Financial Conduct Authority (FSCA) fined him R475 million.
