WINDHOEK – Business mogul Sven Thieme has agreed to pay his estranged wife N$4.8 million within three years after the couple decided to pull a plug on their 15-year marriage.
The money is to be paid from the date of the final order of divorce, papers filed in the High Court reveal.
Thieme’s French wife, Cécile Delphine Thieme (born Lescurat) instituted divorce proceedings after Thieme – the executive chairman of the Ohlthaver & List Group and president of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry – reportedly moved out of their common home in October 2014.
They were married in Nantes, France, in a civil ceremony on June 2, 2000.
Three children were born of their marriage. The court papers offer little detail into what caused the divorce.
In a settlement agreement filed with the High Court, Thieme also agreed to pay his soon to be ex-wife N$40 000 per month to escalate annually according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus two percent until she reaches the age of 60.
Mrs Thieme is also entitled to remain as a separate main member on her former husband’s medical aid fund or a fund with substantially similar benefits until her death.
She will also receive a VW Caravelle TDI 4 X 4 or equivalent vehicle inclusive of petrol, maintenance and repairs.
In addition, Thieme agreed to pay maintenance in the amount of N$8 543 per month per child to also rise according to the CPI plus two percent annually.
He also agreed to bear all “reasonable expenditure” in respect of medical, dental, surgical, hospital, orthodontic and ophthalmological treatment required by the minor children, including any sums payable to a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, practitioner of holistic medicine, psychiatrist/physiologist and chiropractor including medicines and supplements.
In case Thieme’s medical aid fund does not cover certain instances, he also agreed to set up a bank account in his name with Mrs Thieme a signatory and with a credit facility of N$20 000 to accrue according the CPI, plus two percent.
Thieme further undertook to pay all the expenses relating to his children’s educational needs as well as covering the financial burden of all extra-mural, extra-curricular and sport activities his children might engage in.
In addition, he undertook to cater for expenses regarding the children’s clothing, grooming, entertainment and social commitments.
He also undertook to pay for all tertiary studies including accommodation, travel costs as well as documentation and the costs of all books and equipment required for their tertiary education.
He further agreed to pay for the children to visit their maternal grandparents in Europe once a year.
These will continue until the children reach the age of 27 or when his children become self-sufficient.
In return for all this, Thieme is granted regular telephonic access to his children and one week visitation per month as well as one weekend per month.
He is also allowed to have the children one week during the short holidays (April/May, June/July or October) and three weeks alternatively during the Christmas holidays.
The parties also agreed to have access to the children on Mothers/Fathers Day and on their respective birthdays.
It was further agreed neither party shall remove the children from the Republic of Namibia for purposes of relocating to another country without the other party’s prior consent.
The children would, however, be able to travel freely with either of the parents for holiday or studies in or outside Namibia.
It was agreed each party would retain such assets as are presently in his/her possession as his/her sole and absolute property and shall be liable for it.
Acting Judge Thomas Masuku granted Mrs Thieme a restoration of conjugal rights order and declared that if Thieme does not return to his wife before April 20 and does not defend the matter before or on May 18 the settlement agreement will be made an order of the court and marriage will be dissolved.