…the Teachers Group life in the sun.
It was rumoured for years that the innermost circle of the Tvind Teachers Group enjoyed a luxury lifestyle far removed from the Spartan existence of humbler Teachers and hard-working Humana volunteers.
In 2001 this was dramatically borne out when, acting on a tip-off, journalists located the Miami hideaway of Tvind founder Amdi Petersen – a multi-million dollar apartment with marble fittings and sea views in a secure luxury billionaire’s island.
It also emerged that the leader had exclusive use of a luxury yacht, the Butterfly McQueen. Properties and ship had been secretly bought by the Teachers Group using the familiar network of offshore accounts and front companies.
The luxury properties in the USA may be only the tip of the iceberg. There are also reports of a specially designed beachside villa with swimming pool in the Caymans, a huge ‘ranch’ in Zimbabwe, and plans for a palatial ‘retirement’ home in the jungle in Fiji. At the time of his arrest, Petersen was flying between the USA and Mexico where he reportedly also had plans to build a villa.
During his trial, Petersen has been allowed bail and is currently staying in a fabulously appointed country retreat near Grinsted in Denmark, complete with swimming pool and indoor tennis court, the gift of a wealthy supporter.
Reports suggest use of these well-appointed properties and perks is restricted to the highest echelons of the Teachers Group – a couple of dozen loyal people, many of whom are now on trial in Denmark. Less elevated members of the TG have to make do with an engraved watch.
Tvind property companies used to buy luxury real estate.
Fisher Island, Miami
5302 and 5352 Fisher Island Drive
Luxury apartments in a millionaire’s playground private island off Miami, where Amdi Petersen and Kirsten Larsen were traced in 2001, after being on the run for 22 years.
Numbers 5302 and 5352 Fisher Island Drive, were each worth in the region of $6 million (£3.6 million). They were bought for the reclusive couple by offshore real estate companies managed by the Teachers Group. Now sold.
Jyllands Posten reports
More on Fisher Island
Papers on Amdi’s flat could be a gold mine for prosecutors (Berlingske Tidende, 13 August 2003)
Shamva, Zimbabwe
A world headquarters that Petersen once reportedly boasted is ‘so big you could see it from the moon’.
The Humana headquarters was designed by Danish architect Jan Utzon, a supporter of Tvind, and was opened by Petersen’s friend president Robert Mugabe in 1998.
More on Zimbabwe
Other properties
Plagborgvej 13, Grindsted, Denmark
Amdi’s Danish residence
Odinsvej 17, Grindsted, Denmark
Teacher’s Group headquarters
Miami
6301 and 6767 Collins Avenue, Miami
Administrative centre
Apartment owned by Amdi
Source: Danish court report. More information please
Cayman Islands: “Petersen owned a huge villa there,” a former Tvind-teacher states. “I remember a couple of Tvind-teachers running away there. They had to dig a swimming pool. The existing pool was smaller than that of the neighbours and Petersen did not like that.” [Source: Rotterdams Dagblad, 1995] The villa is believed to still exist.
