Andorran Police Probe Disappearance of Business Heir Jean-Louis Pérez Pradère in South Africa

Andorran police are investigating the disappearance of Jean-Louis Pérez Pradère in South Africa, confirming receipt of a missing person report filed by one of his daughters several weeks ago.

The 75-year-old, eldest son of Grup Pyrénées founders Georges Pérez and the late Jacqueline Pradère—who died late last year—had grown distant from the family business. He traveled to Johannesburg for professional reasons, including efforts to recover items he viewed as family property and interest in serving as honorary consul in Andorra for an unspecified African country. Contact ceased at least since late March, with his mobile messaging failing entirely—not just unanswered, but undelivered. The woman who had accompanied him recently, including stays in Barcelona, faces the same communication blackout.

Police received the complaint last week from his youngest daughter, who lives in France near Andorra and maintained the closest ties with him amid longstanding family tensions. Relations with his other two daughters have been strained and intermittent, particularly since their mother's death.

Officers are tracing his recent movements, which included prior trips to Saudi Arabia and other locations. He often traveled without a fixed itinerary. Authorities have contacted Interpol and South African police to determine if the absence is voluntary, given his age and habits, but no updates on his location have emerged. Pérez also has ongoing legal cases in Andorran courts—some initiated by him, others against him—plus a Spanish detention late last year under a French European arrest warrant tied to an alleged 2018-2019 fraud, from which he was released.

The probe remains in early stages, with heightened concern over the complete lack of phone, WhatsApp, or email responses. No further details on circumstances have been released.