Rohde 'murder' twist

24 August 2016 - 02:04 By NASHIRA DAVIDS, ARON HYMAN and SHAUN SMILLIE
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A Cape Town estate agent has appointed an attorney after Monday's arrest of the CEO of Geffen International Realty Franchises, Jason Rohde, following the alleged murder of the businessman's wife.

Jason Rohde and wife Susan, who was found with an electric cord around her neck. File photo
Jason Rohde and wife Susan, who was found with an electric cord around her neck. File photo
Image: FACEBOOK

When contacted by The Times, the woman referred all queries to her lawyer, Leon van der Merwe.

Asked about claims his client had been having an affair with Rohde, Van der Merwe said: "I am not going to comment right now."

On Monday, Rohde was being driven to Stellenbosch. His legal team wanted to fly him and a police officer from Johannesburg to Cape Town after his arrest early yesterday at his Bryanston home.

But officers allegedly insisted the father of three be driven.

Rohde left the Randburg police station with a jacket draped over his head and was driven away in an unmarked bakkie with the two officers who had travelled to Gauteng to arrest him.

According to his attorney, Daniel Witz, Rohde was arrested at 6.30am despite an agreement that he would turn himself in if police wanted to arrest him.

"Mr Rohde answered the ringing door and there were the two arresting officers and eight or nine police officers," said Witz.

His three daughters were now in the care of their grandparents, the attorney said.

Witz said the officers carried a letter from the directorate of public prosecutions in Western Cape, saying Rohde had to be arrested. He hinted they would be challenging the absence of an arrest warrant when Rohde applied for bail, most likely tomorrow.

Susan Rohde's body was found in a bathroom at Spier wine estate in Stellenbosch on July 24. She had accompanied Jason to a company function and they stayed over at the estate. He allegedly raised the alarm when he could not open their bathroom door.

Initially it was thought she had committed suicide but police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the investigation was changed to one of murder after a postmortem was performed.

Witz would not disclose who Rohde had employed to conduct a private "specialist postmortem examination report".

However, the lawyer indicated they would be willing to share the results with police.

Stellenbosch station commander Zithulele Dladla confirmed to The Times that the same detective unit that had investigated the Van Breda axe murder mystery was working on the Rohde case.

Shortly after Susan's death, reports surfaced that the couple had fought at the Spier function but Witz denied allegations she had confronted Jason about an affair.

"The argument was about ending the night and returning to their room to go to sleep . She said everyone had had enough to drink," said Witz.

Sotheby's International Realty SA spokesman Samantha Bartlett said the company had noted the development but no further comments would be made.

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