‘Crous’s firm owes R2.4m for work done’

BUSINESSMAN Theunis Crous’s liquidated construction company still owes a contractor R2.4-million for work done five years ago.

This was said in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court yesterday.

Multi Projects manager Francois Tron took to the witness stand in Crous’s fraud trial yesterday and said that during the initial stages, in March 2010, of being subcontracted to Crous’s company, Ho Hup Corporation, he had received regular payments.

But less than a year into the almost two-year working relationship, Ho Hup defaulted and “I am still waiting to be paid for the work done”, Tron said.

State advocate Antoinette de Jager called Tron to the stand to strengthen the state’s fraud case against Crous and his co-accused and former chief financial officer, Almero Pienaar.

Crous and Pienaar are accused of defrauding the SA Revenue Service of about R5.4-million by allegedly submitting false VAT refunds for Ho Hup between December 2009 and January 2011.

“We were busy with various aspects of the construction on several of Ho Hup’s projects during the period of March 2010 to January 2012,” Tron said.

At the time, Ho Hup was awarded a large contract from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to build low-cost housing in the Uitenhage area.

“At the beginning, all the payments were fine, but the rest of the payments, from August or September 2010, we didn’t get paid for.

Crous had said he was expecting a VAT payout of about R3-million, “but we never saw money”.

It is alleged that between November and December 2010, Pienaar asked various suppliers to provide pro forma invoices for the supply of goods.

The invoices were required to secure financing from Money Mentor Finance (MMF). The pro forma invoices were drawn up, but MMF later withdrew.

Subsequently, Crous’s construction company was liquidated and some money was recovered.

Tron said: “I had to use personal credit, sold one of my properties, and refinanced my machines for our company not to be liquidated.”

Pienaar’s defence said: “But bank records show you were paid in excess of R300 000 in October 2010, yet you say you weren’t paid from August.

“So it’s safe to say you are not sure as to when exactly was your last payment,” Pienaar said.

The trial continues.