Africa-Press – South-Africa. Two media houses have been granted access to a 3 000-page forensic probe into accounting fraud at Steinhoff that the retailer argued should be kept privileged.
Investigative journalism outfit amaBhungane and media house Tiso Blackstar*, which is now known as Arena Holdings, approached the Western Cape High Court seeking an order compelling Steinhoff to share the probe with them. The retailer has to date refused to share the report, compiled by auditing firm PwC over 18 months, with the media.
Findings have been shared with law enforcement agencies, however.
Steinhoff argued that giving the media access to the report would undermine future court cases against implicated former executives, such as its disgraced former CEO Markus Jooste.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday evening, amaBhungane said the court had dismissed Steinhoff’s objections. The judge set aside Steinhoff’s previous refusal to provide the report and ordered it be shared with the two media houses within 10 days.
The two media houses already appear to be gearing up for a challenge.
AmaBhungane’s co-managing partner, Sam Sole, tweeted in reaction to the ruling: “They’ll appeal, but round one to us!”
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