A wealthy pastor who allegedly ran a Ponzi scheme whose investors were mostly government employees was released on R100 000 bail on Wednesday. Colin Davids‚ 48‚ appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court shortly after his arrest by the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation on charges of contravening the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act and Banks Act.Davids‚ the director of Platinum Forex Group‚ is a pastor at New Direction Grace Ministries in Parrow‚ Cape Town.Hawks spokesman Captain Lloyd Ramovha said that the investors were “mainly government employees who had retired or resigned from the service. “In July 2015 Platinum Forex Group’s R100 million worth of assets were frozen on the order of the Western Cape High Court following the NDPP’s application for a Preservation Order in terms of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act‚” he said.Among the goods that were seized were upmarket homes in Plattekloof and Hermanus‚ several bank accounts and seven cars‚ including three top-of-the-range BMWs‚ two Jaguars‚ a Range Rover and a Volvo‚ the Sunday Times reported in 2015. His luxury lifestyle‚ the newspaper reported‚ was aptly summed up in quotes on his Facebook page: “Don’t wait for things to happen — make it happen. You are destined to be a success. Be good‚ do good.”Months after his assets were seized‚ he turned to the High Court in Cape Town in a bid to get access to some of the assets‚ claiming that his family had resorted to surviving on donations and that they needed R290 000 a month for living expenses and legal fees.Davids’ case has been postponed to January 18 2017 for further investigation.Members of the public who have been victims of the Platinum Forex Group are urged to come forward and make contact with the Investigating Officer; Lieutenant Colonel J Hardenberg on (021) 918 3354 or email HardenbergJ@saps.gov.za. ..