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‘I HAVE E30M BUSINESS INTERESTS, ASSETS IN SD’

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image Inavit boss Andrea Nassi (R) and Roots’ Paulo Samina (L) with a plain-clothes police officer on their way to court.

MBABANE – One of the businessmen who were arrested in connection with the E11 million Roots Construction fraud case says he has business interests and assets in Swaziland which are in excess of E30 million.


Andrea Patrick Nassi, who is a director of Inavit Construction Company was arrested together with Paulo Samina, who owns 40 per cent shares at Roots Construction after they allegedly defrauded Rueben Msibi, who owns 60 per cent shares.
The money was allegedly transferred to Merchant Bank in South Africa to an account held by Nassi.


They yesterday filed bail applications at the High Court and are represented by Noncedo Ndlangamandla from Mabila Attorneys.
In his bail application, Nassi submitted that despite being originally from Italy and having a South African national identity document (ID) there was no likelihood that, if released on bail, he may attempt to evade trial as he was firmly rooted in Swaziland.


“I am firmly rooted in Swaziland, having arrived eight years ago and I am a resident of Ezulwini whereat I have just bought a house worth E2 million and I have business interests and assets in the kingdom which are in excess of E30 million,” Nassi stated.


He further submitted that he was a sickly person who suffered from chest problems, which was a condition that does not allow him to be exposed to cold weather conditions. Nassi said he had been advised that in the country’s prisons a person was made to sleep on a small mat on cement. “Further I am married with three children and they are wholly dependent on me for support and maintenance and my continued incarceration will greatly prejudice them,” submitted Nassi


The businessman stated that he was innocent of the charge against him and he would plead not guilty to same. He alleged that after his departure from Roots Construction, the company obtained construction work from the Swaziland National Provident Fund (SNPF) which was worth E100 million, which he actually priced. “Seeing that the work they had obtained from SNPF was massive and complicated and required great expertise to do to the satisfaction of the client, they engaged me as a project director because I am an expert having worked in similar projects in the Republic of South Africa and the Middle East,” he stated.


Nassi alleged that in his meeting with the complainant (Msibi) it was agreed that his engagement would be a joint venture and that the complainant would receive 60 per cent of the profits. He said it was further agreed that he (Nassi) would get the remaining 40 per cent.

Comments (1 posted):

Sanele Mdluli on 21/08/2014 16:02:26
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Lot of things scandalous acts are still to be seen in Swaziland as a lot of people are gonna be arrested for their bad deeds.

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