Kölsch threatens to sue

Marie-May Kölsch, the Seychelles consul-general in South Africa, has lambasted Pinnacle Point Group's liquidators over claims that she received money from the embattled property group.

Kölsch was subpoenaed to appear before a liquidation commission to explain a series of R50000 payments allegedly made to her by the company's executives. In addition, she was due to explain her interest in an international golfing tender.

But Kölsch was a no-show - claiming diplomatic immunity.

The commission, chaired by retired Judge Meyer Joffe, is also investigating how R250-million of a textile workers' pension fund ended up in the company's coffers.

A raunchy e-mail surfaced during the testimony of a former director of the group, Ivor Stratford, last week. Stratford was expected to lift the lid on his alleged allocation to Kölsch of shares worth R48-million.

The allocation of the shares relates to an international tender for the development of Ile Aurore, an island in the Seychelles, which the company won.

Yesterday Kölsch threatened to sue The Times for reporting on the allegations made in the hearings.

"I cannot stop you from publishing unproven facts and allegations, but would like to advise you that I keep my options open to take legal action against the newspaper as it appears that you use unfounded information to create a sensational smear campaign against a person and a country which had always had the interest of her country and people as her foremost intention throughout her career," she said.

Kölsch accused the commission's lawyers of using her as a "scapegoat".

The commission's attorney, Leonard Katz, said the company would subpoena Kölsch again when the inquiry resumes in August.

He said her denials contradicted Stratford's evidence.

"The documentation which the liquidators have reflect that millions of rands were paid by the Pinnacle Group to Ms Kölsch," he said .