South African up for fraud

Zim Now Writer

Selling gold through unofficial channels can be risky as two men - Gift Kudakwashe Minenji of Pistol Mine and Simba Dumbura, a gold miner at S and J Mining Syndicate in Penhalonga near Mutare were allegedly duped of a total of 2,8kg of the precious mineral valued at US$154 000 by Peter Coetzee, alias Van Tonder Vikus, alias Johannes Jacobus Conelius Naude, who is believed to be South African.

Coetzee appeared before Harare magistrate Taurai Manuwere yesterday, facing charges of duping two gold miners.

The court heard through prosecutor Shepherd Makonde that the man’s legal name cannot be confirmed since he has not tendered his identification particulars. He allegedly presented himself as a gold buyer and investor to miner Minenji.

Coetzee (54), at this point, is alleged to have been staying at a guest house in Borrowdale, Harare.

It is the State’s case that on June 27 last year, Minenji was lured into bringing 1,2kg gold that he wanted to sell to the guest house. He met Coetzee around 10am, and was shown a fake proof of bank transfer.

Coetzee then claimed he was collecting the balance and his gold buying permit from the house but is alleged to have gathered his belongings and disappeared using another door.

When contacted via mobile phone, Coetzee’s accomplice claimed they had gone to Fidelity Printers and Refiners in Msasa to look for more money, but later on, the numbers were no longer going through.

Minenji reported the matter at ZRP Borrowdale after realising he had been duped.

In the other count, Coetzee is alleged to have contacted Dumbura, luring him by claiming he wanted to be an investor and form a partnership that would run for about five years.

On June 7 last year, Coetzee allegedly invited Dumbura to the Harare guest house for a business meeting. Dumbura travelled to Harare on June 8 and met Coetzee who said he wanted to work with Dumbura as a partner in his business.

They agreed that Coetzee visit Mr Dumbura’s mine so he knew about the operations, which he did after about a week. After touring the mine, they then agreed that Dumbura should bring to Coetzee the gold they produce for sampling.

On August 27 last year Dumbura drove to Harare to meet Coetzee so that the 1,6kg of gold he was bringing could be sampled.

Dumbura was asked to proceed to a lodge in Avondale where they would meet and on arrival at around 5pm, Coetzee was not there, but he had made accommodation booking for Dumbura.

Coetzee then arrived 45 minutes later and asked to see the gold. Dumbura, who was in the company of a relative, Justine Mapandisana, showed Coetzee seven pieces of gold which he then started to weigh. During the transaction, Dumbura recorded a short video footage using his mobile phone.

However, Coetzee allegedly pretended to have been infuriated that the gold brought was too little, and demanded that they went back to Mutare in the company of a man only known as Tanaka, who was Coetzee’s driver, so they bought more gold.

Coetzee picked up the gold pieces and went out of the lodge, leaving Tanaka behind, who he told that one Malvern, was bringing cash US$400 000, for use in buying more gold.

It is alleged that after a while, Tanaka received a call which he answered as if Malvern had come, and went outside but never returned. Sensing that he had been conned, Dumbura went out to check outside the lodge but did not see anyone.

He tried their cellphone numbers but they were all unreachable, and then made a police report at ZRP Avondale.

Nothing has been recovered yet. No bail application was made as Coetzee’s place of residence is unknown and could therefore be a flight risk.