Former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown was the only contact point for the company in business deals, ex-broker Steven Goodwin said.
|||Cape Town - Former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown was the only contact point for the company in business deals, ex-broker Steven Goodwin told the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
The State wanted to know who Goodwin thought was in charge of Fidentia Asset Management.
“The guy I dealt with at all stages was Arthur Brown. He was 'numero uno' (number one), he was the big boss. That's what I believed,” Goodwin said during re-examination.
He was asked if Brown ever gave him instructions for the period 2002 to 2006.
“Yes, I was [instructed]. I received an e-mail saying I should only deal with him.” Goodwin was testifying in Brown's embezzlement trial.
Brown has pleaded not guilty to fraud, corruption and money-laundering charges. His legal team denies that he ran a pyramid scheme and used investors' funds for personal gain.
The State ran through the amounts of money Goodwin was connected to through his schedule of offences.
He was then allowed to leave the stand.
The same court previously found Goodwin guilty of bribing former Transport Education and Training Authority CEO Piet Bothma to facilitate the transfer of investments.
He also admitted to money-laundering, involving around R93 million, through two of his entities. He entered into a plea agreement in 2009 and was sentenced to in effect 10 years in jail.
He was released on correctional supervision and is likely to finish serving his sentence in June.
Sapa