Disbarred lawyer and television personality Peet Viljoen has been denied bail by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, with Magistrate Nicca Setshogoe ruling that he poses a flight risk. According to News24, the judgment was delivered on Monday, 17 August. Viljoen faces roughly 400 charges, including fraud, theft, corruption, forgery, and uttering, linked to an alleged property fraud scheme involving the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC). The eNCA report noted that the case centres on the unlawful sale of municipal properties worth approximately R27 million to R27.6 million, dating back to 2010.
Peet Viljoen Denied Bail and Deemed Flight Risk in Multi-Million-Rand Fraud Case
Viljoen was arrested on 16 June at OR Tambo International Airport by the Hawks after spending roughly 100 days in United States immigration custody. His detention in the US followed an arrest in Florida over an alleged shoplifting incident at a supermarket, according to eNCA. Following the court’s decision, Viljoen will remain at Kgosi Mampuru Prison, with the criminal proceedings set to continue on 4 September.
Court Weighs Additional Charges, Witness Intimidation Concerns, and Lack of Fixed Address
In delivering her ruling, Magistrate Setshogoe pointed to several critical factors that weighed against Viljoen’s release. According to Sundayworld, the magistrate took into account that additional fraud cases had been registered against Viljoen between 2021 and 2023 regarding the alleged fraudulent sale of Tammy Taylor franchises while he was previously out on bail. Furthermore, the court raised concerns that Viljoen lacked a fixed address in South Africa and noted allegations that he had intimidated state witnesses and the investigating officer.
The state opposed bail aggressively, presenting nearly 480 pages of evidence, including affidavits from co-accused individuals who have already pleaded guilty. Prosecutors argued that Viljoen had previously stated on social media that he would never return to South Africa, and submitted that Home Affairs records showed no evidence that Viljoen and his wife, Mel Viljoen, had returned to the country after leaving in 2025. Prosecutors also maintained that Viljoen had disposed of his South African assets prior to relocating to the US.
Defense Proposals and Legal Arguments Rejected
During the bail hearings, Viljoen’s defense lawyer, Andre Steenkamp, proposed bail amounts ranging between R200,000 and R250,000. The defense offered that Viljoen remain under house arrest at his sister’s home in Olympus, Pretoria, while reporting daily to the police and surrendering his passport. Steenkamp argued that Viljoen was not a flight risk because he had chosen to return to South Africa voluntarily despite having the option of being deported elsewhere following his US immigration troubles.
Viljoen told the court he could not return to the United States because he signed a document barring him from entering the country for ten years. He maintained that he was still technically on bail and had not breached any previous conditions, while also claiming plans to establish a coffee shop and restart beauty businesses utilizing approximately R6 million worth of beauty product stock. Viljoen has denied all wrongdoing, asserted that the state’s case is weak, and stated his intention to sue the National Prosecuting Authority for R500 million over what he termed an unlawful prosecution.
National Prosecuting Authority Welcomes Decision as Legal Proceedings Continue
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the court’s ruling to keep the accused behind bars.
Outside the courtroom, reality television personality Mel Viljoen was seen visibly emotional and in tears following the magistrate’s refusal to grant her husband bail. Viljoen remains unconvicted of the charges against him and is scheduled to return to court on 4 September for the continuation of the matter.
