Arrest warrant issued for former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste

A German court issued an arrest warrant for former chief executive officer (CEO) of scandal-ridden retailer Steinhoff International Holdings NV, Markus Jooste.

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According to Bloomberg, this comes after he failed to show up for trial in the country.

A warrant was issued a fortnight ago by the Regional Court of Oldenburg after Jooste failed to turn up for his trial on 18 April this year.

Jooste reportedly couldn’t travel as he didn’t have access to his passport under an arrangement with South African authorities.

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WHO IS MARKUS JOOSTE?

Jooste, now 62, was born in Pretoria on 22 January 1961.

His father was a postal worker and an avid horse race punter, instilling also in his son an interest in the races.

Jooste matriculated from Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool (Affies) in 1978.

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Prior to the 2017 fallout in his business empire, he donated R10 million to the school’s old boys trust in his personal capacity. The donation has since been ring-fenced pending possible claims.

He obtained a BAcc degree from Stellenbosch University in 1982 and subsequently obtained an honours degree at the University of Cape Town while completing his CA(SA) articles at a company then owned by Christo Wiese.

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