The mystery of the missing businessman

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File photo

Published May 26, 2016

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Pretoria - The bizarre tale of a millionaire businessman who disappeared exactly a year ago while en route to settle in Corfu, Greece, unfolded during an urgent application in the high court in Pretoria, which appointed his brother as curator of his estate.

Andreas Marambos, the chief executive of FlikCinemas in Doha, Qatar, approached the court as his family have not heard a word from his brother Vasilis Marambos for a year.

A missing person report has been issued by the police in South Africa and the SAPS is in the process of registering a missing person’s case with Interpol. He was also reported missing in Corfu where he was heading. Vasilis was last heard of on May 25, last year, when he flew from South Africa to Zurich, Switzerland, en route to Corfu.

The last time anyone heard from him was when, while in Zurich, he sent an e-mail to his lawyer in Corfu to make an appointment to consult her. Andreas said in papers before court that their elderly mother, who lives in Scotland, also last heard from him more than a year ago. The mother, who is 80, is frail and Andreas said he cannot tell her that her son went missing.

“I am scared that if she is informed of this application and the fact that Vasilis is missing and could be dead, her health will suffer.”

Vasilis, an accountant, traded as an international broker and financial adviser.

The court was told that he and his two brothers keep in contact with each other via electronic mail and Vasilis kept in regular contact with his auditor regarding his business affairs. No one has heard from him since he disappeared.

According to Andreas, his brother’s company owned a R6.5 million apartment at the Michelangelo Towers in Sandton and a R8m house in Morningside.

The manager of the Michelangelo Towers told Andreas his brother last paid his levies in June last year.

He said he had sent him e-mails, but Vasilis did not respond. He also tried to call him on his cellphone, but received a message that the service had been discontinued. Vasilis often contacted his mother, but she too, hasn't heard from him since he disappeared.

Andreas said he meanwhile arranged with the management of the apartment at the Michelangelo Towers that the apartment could be let for R42 343 a month. This could be used to settle the outstanding levies.

Andreas said it was important that he be appointed as curator to legally manage his brother’s financial affairs.

He said if urgent action wasn't taken to settle the debts, the properties would be sold on auction at a fraction of their value.

“I am hopeful that Vasilis will become available at some stage to manage his own affairs, but I have to consider that he might be dead. I want to appoint a tracer to do a diligent and expert search for Vasilis.”

Andreas said if he cannot be found, he would again approach the court to declare him dead.

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