Uwe Gemballa Murdered

Uwe Gemballa appears to have been executed in South Africa

Uwe Gemballa’s body has been found in Pretoria, South Africa. It would appear he was executed in a gangland-style murder.

Back in February Uwe Gemballa –  owner of the eponymous Porsche Tuning Company – disappeared on a business trip to South Africa. At first it was suspected that he may have been kidnapped, especially after his wife reported him calling and asking for €1M to be transferred to South Africa shortly after he arrived.

But when nothing further was heard it was assumed – by us as well as others – that Uwe’s well-documented money problems had lead to him choosing to disappear in South Africa. It didn’t completely add up, but it seemed to make more sense than a kidnap ransom for a man who was struggling financially.

Since then all has been quiet, but today the Sunday Times in South Africa is reporting that Uwe’s body has been found in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria. The ST is reporting that he was  ‘…shot execution-style in the head. His hands were bound behind his back and his body was wrapped’. A terrible end.

The Sunday Times is reporting investigators in the case saying that Uwe had become involved in an offshore money-laundering scheme allegedly involving Czech billionaire Radovan Krejcir. The South African Authorities have notified the German authorities of the discovery of Uwe’s body.

According to three people close to the investigation, imported sports cars were actually a front for money laundering – with cash stashed in door panels. The Sunday Times went on to say:

“The discovery of his body threatens to blow wide open an international syndicate – stretching from Switzerland and Germany to Johannesburg – involving alleged money laundering, tax evasion, imported cars stuffed with cash and contract killings”.

At the time of his death Uwe was under investigation by German authorities for tax evasion and apparently holding an undeclared Swiss bank account. His Porsche tuning company was declared insolvent shortly after his disappearence and is now under new ownership.

Our condolences to Uwe’s family.