Police have opened a case of theft after an undisclosed amount of money was found to be missing from cricketer and dentist Tertius Bosch's estate, following days of speculation that he had been poisoned.
Bosch's body was exhumed on Tuesday after his sister began to suspect his death may not have been accidental. It was originally thought that Bosch had died from Guillane Barre syndrome on Valentine's Day last year, but an inquest was launched by the police after private investigator Hennie Els discovered evidence that he says points to Bosch being poisoned.
Investigating officer Captain Jasco Dinkelman said money was missing from Bosch's estate and a case of theft had been opened. He refused to give any further details.
Police Captain Vish Naidoo confirmed the theft case, but when asked to elaborate on how much money was involved and where the money was stolen from, he replied: "Let's just say there is evidence of theft from the estate. It is too early in the investigation to give numbers and amounts."
He said police investigators and not members of the Bosch family had laid the charge. He added that police had no suspects at this early stage of investigations.
Dinkelman said he was still sifting through information and evidence pertaining to the case but no information would be released until forensic pathologist Dr Reggie Perumal had completed his tests.
Perumal is waiting for results to come back on samples of hair, nail and blood he took from attorney Henry Selzer on Wednesday. Selzer, who was appointed executor of Bosch's estate in February and had until recently been in a relationship with Bosch's widow Karen-Anne, began experiencing similar health problems to those of the late cricketer about 10 months ago.
Selzer told the Saturday Star that police had urged him not to give interviews pending the results.
"Should they come back positive, I will be an important part of the investigation," he explained. "M-Net's Carte Blanche phoned and wanted an interview, but I said no."
He did confirm that he had been in a relationship with Mrs Bosch but it was "now something of the past".
He also confirmed that he had been appointed executor to wind up Bosch's affairs because the executrix, Lena van Zyl, had said she was based in Vereeniging and that the long distance prejudiced the winding-up of the affairs.
"The legal actions and debt recoveries on behalf of the estate were carried out by me without reward, due to the fact that at the time I was involved in a relationship with Mrs Bosch," he said.
Mrs Bosch has not commented on the mystery around her husband's death, refusing media interviews, although she has sold her story to a national magazine and even posed at the graveside for photographs shortly before the exhumation was performed.
Mrs Bosch's mother said her daughter wanted to be left alone.
"She hasn't said much at all. She is waiting for everyone to have their say and then she will talk," she said. "Please just respect that."
