The legal woes surrounding former celebrity attorney Peet Viljoen and his wife, Mel Viljoen, continue to mount. This comes after a Pretoria court postponed his bail application. At the same time, reports emerged that the South African Revenue Service (Sars) has turned its attention to Mel over alleged outstanding tax matters.
The high-profile couple endured another difficult day in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria last week Thursday. Peet’s bid to secure his release from custody was delayed until 17 August, which means he will remain behind bars for several more weeks. Fresh Sars questions for Mel Mel Viljoen.
Picture Gallo Images During proceedings, a Sars official was seen briefly speaking to Mel during a court recess. Reports indicate the engagement relates to alleged outstanding tax returns and a reported tax dispute linked to her business affairs. While details remain unclear, reports have suggested the matter could involve an alleged tax debt of around R14 million connected to her Tammy Taylor franchise operations.
When approached for comment outside court, Mel declined to discuss the tax matter. She said the family’s immediate priority remains her husband’s legal battle. Neither Sars nor Mel have publicly confirmed the details of the alleged tax issues.
Peet remains behind bars Peet Viljoen was arrested after arriving back in South Africa following his deportation from the United States in June. He is facing more than 400 criminal charges. These include fraud, corruption, theft, forgery and uttering.
The charges relate to an alleged R27.6 million City of Johannesburg property fraud scheme dating back to 2010. The prosecution maintains that Viljoen poses a significant flight risk. They point to his relocation to the United States and previous social media posts.
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