AFU seizes Alexandria man's farm

THE asset forfeiture unit (AFU) in Port Elizabeth yesterday seized the property of an Alexandria farmer who was arrested with two Chinese nationals during a R3.5-million perlemoen bust last year.

A calm Jacobus Marthinus van der Mescht, who was arrested in July last year along with Chinese nationals Dong Hau Liang, 35, and Huihong Liang, 30, was given 14 days to oppose the preservation order, after which his property will be sold.

Yesterday mechanic Van der Mescht, who is out on R5000 bail, took members of the sheriff's office, the National Prosecuting Authority, Captain Pieter Kapp, assigned to the AFU in Port Elizabeth as head of the task team, the curator and state advocate Warren Myburgh through his property, including the now derelict shop where perlemoen weighing 1.6 tons had been found.