Fugitive socialite's house to be auctioned off
After 10 years in the country, socialite Aleksandra von Maltzan left her car at the airport and fled the country, owing banks and high-end businesses millions.
At 11am on Friday her Constantia mansion will be auctioned off, including its contents - valuable artworks, fine furniture, rare antiques, Tiffany jewellery, a gym, and polo equipment.
Von Maltzan and her husband Victor were sequestrated in the Western Cape High Court last year.
They owed Standard Bank about R45-million and had small and great debts to a variety of companies.
In court papers, it emerged the Von Maltzans had fled their mansion with only their most prized possessions. The dressing room was strewn with clothes and the staff were left behind without pay.
Her SUV was found at Cape Town International, estimated to have been there for three months. But she still communicated with creditors in South Africa via a Gmail email account.
The Alliance Group's Rael Levitt will auction off the Constantia Heights home in Rhodes Drive, Constantia Nek, and more than 300 personal items.
These include Prada handbags, Giltwood and Regency furniture, French antiques, a 200-year-old Cassella illustrated Bible, sporting equipment, and jewellery from local and international designers.
The luxury home has an indoor pool, conservatory, library, gym, wine cellar, sauna, outside cottage, garages for six cars and a view over the Constantia valley.
Pure Capital Property Holdings sought the couple's sequestration in the Western Cape High Court. The proceedings before Judge Dennis Davis carried on in their absence.
Standard Bank claimed debts of R45.5m owed on the property, a Range Rover and a credit card. The court ordered Von Maltzan to repay the bank and instructed the sheriff to attach her immovable property.
Investec Private Bank also brought a claim, for close to R220 000.
Pure Capital head Alon Kowen said in an affidavit that the couple, who arrived in Cape Town from England in 1999, "enjoyed a lavish lifestyle..."
Callaghan Collezione delivered designer clothing to her for which she owed R84 000.
She also dishonoured a R4 600 agreement with Parthenon Dry Cleaners.
The two debts were ceded to Pure Capital.
Kowen said Von Maltzan was clearly insolvent as her immovable property was worth R30m and her movable property R850 000, yet she owed Standard Bank R45.5m.
She told Standard Bank she intended to get Investec Mauritius to help her pay her debts through mortgages. No such bonds were registered.
Cape Times
Posted at 09:45AM Jan 19, 2010 by Editor in Residential |