After a lengthy five-year legal battle, Cape Town attorney Henk van Aswegen has had fraud charges against him withdrawn, highlighting the challenges faced in commercial disputes and the impact of criminal allegations on personal and professional life.
A fraud charge against Cape Town attorney, businessman, and property developer Henk van Aswegen has been withdrawn by the State, bringing to an end a five-year legal battle that he says caused significant reputational, financial, and personal harm.
The matter was withdrawn last week in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria after the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng concluded that there was no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution.
Van Aswegen, 59, from Melkbosstrand, was arrested in 2021 on allegations linked to a long-running commercial dispute involving the Bendor Meadows residential development in Polokwane. The charge centred on claims that an invoice valued at approximately R1.2 million, which formed part of arbitration proceedings, was fraudulent.
The allegations were later amended to fraud, with the complainant claiming that the invoice relied upon in the arbitration process was never due or payable.
