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Court Reporter
A South Africa man, who presented himself to many people as an investor and gold dealer, yesterday appeared in court on allegations of duping Ntabazinduna Gold Mine of US$79 000.
Peter Coetzee also known as Van Tonder Vikus allegedly duped Mr Stanely Ndlovu of cash in a gold mining partnership deal.
He was not asked to plead to the charges.
Prosecutor Mr Shephered Makonde alleges that sometime in October 2021, Ndlovu, of Emhlangeni, Bulawayo and a gold miner at Ntabazinduna Gold Mine in Mbembesi was called by Coetzee who said he got his number from one Memory, who is now late.
Coetzee said he was looking for a partnership with someone in the gold mining business since he had heavy and modern gold mining equipment.
On October 15 last year, Mr Ndlovu travelled from his mine to Harare in the company of his wife, Mrs Belinda Ndlovu, where they were received at Sam Levy Village by Vongai Machokoto.
Machokoto was recently arrested and has already appeared in court on similar charges.
Machokoto and one Tanaka then escorted Mr Ndlovu to 15 Hawkshead Drive, Borrowdale.
Machokoto posed as secretary and started noting minutes of the meeting.
During the meeting, Coetzee presented himself as an investor who was also registered as a gold buying agent with the Fidelity Printers and Refineries in Zimbabwe.
He also allegedly indicated that he was willing to facilitate supply of mining equipment from South Africa.
Mr Ndlovu then allegedly told Coetzee that he needed two heavy duty generators, two tipper trucks one front-end loader, one excavator and diesel, which all was valued at US$134 500.
According to the State, it was agreed that Mr Ndlovu was to deposit a certain amount to facilitate the transportation of the mining equipment from South Africa
On October 22, Mr Ndlovu and his wife drove to Harare with US$51 000 and 500g gold which he intended to Deposit at Fidelity Printers and Refineries.
They went to Coetzee place in Borrowdale where they had a short meeting and handed over US$51 000 in the presence of his wife, Machokoto and Tanaka.
Coetzee asked Ndlovu to give him the 500g gold which the wanted to deposit with the Fidelity Printers and Refineries as party payment to increase the sum of deposit for mining equipment and he complied.
Coetzee is said to have told Ndlovu he would deposit the gold on his own and add that money to the deposit of mining equipment.
Machokoto allegedly receipted the money.
It is the State’s case that Coetzee, Machokoto and one Tanaka left the place using a back door.
On October 19 2022, detectives got information to the effect that the Coetzee was in Harare before luring him to meet them.
On October 24 last year, Mr Ndlovu learnt of the arrest of Coetzee on social media and filed a police report
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter