By Siyabonga Mkhwanazi
An offshore account that went from $125 000 (about R800 000) to $397 (about R2 700) in three months might hold clues to the motive for the mysterious murder of a Johannesburg teacher.
Brian Currin, 49, a senior mathematics teacher at St John's private school in Houghton, was shot once in the head before his body was burned beyond recognition in March 2002.
The Johannesburg High Court heard that Currin was murdered after he had questioned Michael Montgomery, 36, about the huge sums of money that had been siphoned off his offshore investment account.
Francois Grundeling, 31, his brother Ruben, 35, and Montgomery, 36, have pleaded not guilty on the murder charge and of stealing Currin's luxury vehicle.
Defence counsel advocate Michael Klaas said Ruben Grundeling would testify that he and Currin were involved in a "hula hoop" insurance scam. Currin was to report his vehicle stolen and then divide the R90 000 the car was to be sold for.
Klaas continued that Ruben Grundeling would say he was involved in a "skirmish" with Currin and that he had shot him in self-defence.
However, giving evidence, H K Smith, a Scorpions investigator, testified that he had learnt from Ruben Grundeling that Montgomery had actually pulled the trigger.
Currin had apparently accused Montgomery of mishandling his offshore investments.
Currin's financial adviser and co-executor of his estate, Pamela Cum, said his estate was valued at R3-million, excluding life insurances, and he had offshore investments of $125 000.
Shortly after Currin's death, Cum said she discovered that of the $125 000 in the offshore account, only $397 was left.
Cum testified that she had discovered that before his death, Currin had lost $55 000 to bad trades and $45 000 had been transferred to his wife's account.
Five days after he was killed, a transfer of $6 300 was made from Currin's account to that of his wife.
In addition, four debits were made from Currin's account after Cum had closed all his offshore accounts. It still has to be established where the money went.
"It was discovered that fraud was committed after the deceased had died," Cum testified.
The defence was expected to start its case on Monday when the trial resumes. - High Court Reporter
