Peet Viljoen denied bail in R27.6 million property fraud case

Disbarred Pretoria lawyer and reality television personality Peet Viljoen has been denied bail after the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court ruled that he poses a significant flight risk.

The 57-year-old appeared in court on Monday, 17 August, facing more than 400 charges, including fraud, corruption, theft, forgery and uttering.

The charges relate to an alleged R27.6 million property fraud scheme involving the Johannesburg Property Company and the alleged fraudulent sale of 46 properties in 2010.

Defence argues Peet Viljoen is not a flight risk

Viljoen’s lawyer, Andre Steenkamp, argued that his client’s voluntary return to South Africa demonstrated that he intended to face the charges.

The defence proposed R200 000 bail and house arrest, arguing that Viljoen should be allowed to await trial outside custody.

However, prosecutor Van Zyl opposed the application, pointing to previous statements allegedly made by Viljoen suggesting that he would not return to South Africa.

The prosecution argued that releasing him would not be in the interests of justice.

The court ultimately agreed that Viljoen represented a significant flight risk and refused his bail application.

His wife, reality TV personality Mel Viljoen, was seen crying after the ruling.

International legal troubles

Viljoen was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on 16 June 2026, following his deportation from the United States.

He and his wife, Mel, had been arrested in Florida in March in connection with allegations involving a ticket-switching scheme at a Publix supermarket.

WATCH | NEW footage surfaces from Peet Viljoen’s shoplifting arrest

Viljoen will remain in custody pending his next court appearance.

The case has been postponed to 4 September 2026, while the National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed the court’s decision to deny bail.