Estate agent Nomsa ‘Tiny’ Masiza and her attorney husband Phillip failed to appear in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court yesterday, with their defence counsel claiming they had been booked off for medical conditions.

The Herald reports the couple – accused of fraud – claim to be in quarantine at an address unknown to the state or the investigating officer in the matter, which, according to the state, warrants their arrest.

Prosecutor Leigh-Anne Pillay-Selahle told the court she was in possession of the couple’s medical certificates but was unwilling to accept this as the nature of their illness was stated as a medical condition, with no further details as to what the condition was.

Pillay-Selahle said the Masizas were also no longer staying at the address they gave when they were released on bail – R5 000 for Phillip and R10 000 for Nomsa – in December 2018.

‘Their address should have been given by now ... at the moment we don’t even know where they are,’ Pillay-Selahle said.

Defence attorney Danie Gouws said he would personally undertake to provide their new address to the state and investigating officer yesterday.

Gouws said he had spoken to Phillip, who had confirmed they were both in quarantine.

The report notes the Masizas are jointly accused of defrauding Port Elizabeth businessman Greg Billings out of nearly R1m by participating in the fake sale of a house.

The case was postponed to 30 September.

Full report in The Herald (subscription needed)