An accountant accused of stealing a whopping R50 million from two Spar franchises in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro has made another court appearance in Gqeberha.
Fifty-one-year-old Jonathan Blow has been in custody since his arrest on the 17th of March.
Blow's legal representative Hannelie Bakker told the court that her client suffered from high blood pressure, asthma and depression, and needed to get back to work so that he could pay his R500 000 overdraft on his personal and company debt.
She also stated that Blow was seeing a psychologist, who is treating him for an online gambling addiction, adding that there were exceptional circumstances for him to be granted bail.
Blow stands accused of stealing over R40 million from Sundridge Spar as well as R11 million from a franchise in Despatch.
State advocate Lise Keech revealed that Blow is the sole director of PE Accounting Solutions (PEAS) in Walmer, and rendered “accounting, payroll and creditor payment services every month for an agreed fee.
The State said for him to render these services, the “accused requested and was given full access and administrative rights to Despatch and Sunridge’ Spar and \trading bank accounts.”
It is further alleged that between 11 September 2020 and 10 March 2022, Blow, in addition to the fees for which he invoiced, “unlawfully transferred 105 amounts totalling R11 478 350 from the aforesaid trading accounts to the bank account of PEAS.”
Keech told the court on Monday that Blow’s Walmer house was on the market, and that he had applied and been granted an ancestral VISA to work overseas, four days before his arrest.
She said this showed that he was a flight risk.
Keech said that State had not yet completed its investigation into Blow which raised a concern that he would hamper the investigation while out on bail by concealing critical evidence and interfering with state witnesses.
She said that South Africa had porous borders which could see him skip the country.
Blow’s attorney, Bakker, said her client's family had raised R50 000 for his release on bail and that he would be willing to report to the Walmer Police Station, even twice a day if need be.
She told the court that her client was sick and was not given his medication since his arrest.
Blow's wife who is a teacher earns a salary of R25 000 which is not enough to support their two children who are at university.
Bakker added that their house was on the market to secure a cheaper place to rent while paying off their debt.
The matter was postponed to April 11 for judgment on the Bail application.
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