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A SUSPECTED illegal immigrant was yesterday hauled to court on two fraud charges involving US$152 000.
Peter Coetzee, who is also known as Van Tonder Vikus or Johannes Jacobus Conelius Naude, from Pretoria, South Africa, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Taurai Manuwere.
He was remanded in custody until November 11.
The State, represented by Shepherd Makonde, opposed bail because Coetzee is suspected to be an illegal immigrant.
The State intends to verify his identity through Interpol because he doesn’t have a passport.
The court heard that Coetzee approached Gift Kudakwashe Mineji and introduced himself as a registered gold buyer and investor.
On June 27 last year, Coetzee lured Mineji, who had 1.2kg of gold he was selling, to a lodge in Borrowdale.
Coetzee allegedly indicated he could do a money transfer in South Africa where Mineji intended to buy some mining equipment.
On the same day, Coetzee gave Mineji a fake proof of payment and told him he wanted to return to the room to collect the remaining balance, and his gold buying permit.
It’s alleged Coetzee took his belongings and the gold, and exited the lodge through another entrance, leaving Mineji at the lodge.
He was later told by the staff that Coetzee had left the lodge with his accomplice, one Tanaka.
He attempted to contact Coetzee and Tanaka, who indicated that they had gone to Fidelity Msasa, to look for some cash.
Their numbers later became unavailable.
After realising that he had been duped, Mineji filed a police report.
The gold is worth US$66 000.
In the second count, Simba Dumbura said Coetzee contacted him on WhatsApp, claiming to be an investor, willing to do business with him.
Dumbura is a gold miner at S and J Mining Syndicate.
Coetzee lured Dumbura to the same lodge in Borrowdale, claiming that it was his house.
They arranged that Coetzee should visit Dumbura’s mine in Mutare.
Coetzee went to the mine with Tanaka.
A month later Dumbura realised 1.6kg of gold and went with it to Coetzee for sampling.
But, when he got to a lodge in Avondale, Coetzee was not around.
Dumbura was told Coetzee had booked a room for him so he checked in and waited for him.
It’s alleged that Coetzee arrived with Tanaka and they were shown the gold, which they weighed.
Dumbura recorded a short video during the transaction.
It is alleged that Coetzee pretended that the gold Dumbura brought was too little and he wanted him to go back with Tanaka to get more gold in Mutare.
Coetzee picked up the gold pieces and left and told Tanaka that someone called Malvern would bring US$400 000 for the gold.
Tanaka then pretended that Malvern had called, and went outside and fled from the lodge, leaving Dumbura stranded. The stolen gold was worth US$88 000.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter