adminTendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A South African businessman who crashed his helicopter in Gwanda and concealed the accident yesterday pleaded guilty to entering Zimbabwe illegally with his helicopter when he appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts. Fredrick Wilhelm August Lutzkie (52) was arrested on Monday shortly after disembarking at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
Lutzkie pleaded guilty to 14 counts of contravening sections of the Civil Aviation Act and the Immigration Act when he appeared before Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe.
He was remanded in custody to today for sentencing.
Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza said during the period extending from February 1 to 28, Lutzkie flew his helicopter from South Africa and landed at Doddiebun Range in Gwanda where he runs a game farm.
He was flying without permission from the Civil Aviation of Zimbabwe in accordance with the terms and conditions specified by the authority.
In terms of the Immigration Act, Lutzkie was supposed to go through the immigration formalities which involved stamping of his passport, but he evaded the immigration authorities.
He also exited the country without the knowledge of the Civil Aviation and immigration authorities.
Using the same method, Lutzkie illegally flew into Zimbabwe several times.
On April 27, Lutzkie fraudulently acquired an entry stamp at Beitbridge Border Post and used the same method to get an exit stamp.
On May 5, at around 9am, Lutzkie flew from a lodge in Gwanda en route to South Africa before crashing after flying for about four kilometres.
The court heard that he did not report the accident to the authorities within the stipulated 24 hours.
Lutzkie went on to dig a deep pit using an excavator and buried the wreckage and went back to South Africa.
The wreckage was recovered on May 20 after a tip-off.
Online Reporter