The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
TWO directors of Sand Finder Investments Private Limited, one of them a Chinese accused of theft and transportation of gold ore without permission last week heaved a sigh of relief after a magistrate granted them permission to be removed from remand.
The accused Mohammed Daka (37) and Victor Xiaofei (28), through their lawyer Mr David Mhiribidi, of Mutuso, Mhiribidi and Partners sought an application from the court for refusal of further remand and exception to charges of theft and transportation of gold ore without a permit.
They appeared in court last Wednesday before regional magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere who granted them the permission to be placed off remand. Mr Mberewere said the case will continue once the State has secured an interpreter. Daka and Victor were arrested for allegedly stealing 144 tonnes of gold ore with gold recovery of 1 604 grammes valued at more $64 000.
Contrary to earlier claims that the duo was remanded in custody when they first appeared in court early this month, they were in fact, remanded out of custody.
The State did not oppose the placing of the duo off remand. Mr Mberewere said: “The court will convene once the State has secured an interpreter then they will come up with the dates for trial.”
The State’s case as presented by prosecutor, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa is that on 1 June 2016, the duo approached the complainant, Mr Michael van Rooyen, who owns Star Group of Mines. They had a meeting at Mr Van Rooyen’s house in Hillside asking to conduct exploration at his mining claims in order to buy Star Group of Mines. It was the State’s case that Mr Van Rooyen allowed the two to take the samples from Star Group of Mines for examining to determine the viability of the mines before buying them.
The court also heard that from 1 June to 25 August 2016, the two employed teams comprising five men each and took about 144 tonnes of gold ore from several shafts at Star Group of Mines and milled it at their Hope Fountain milling centre instead of taking for assaying as had earlier been agreed on. According to the State, the gold ore was transported during the night without an ore movement permit.
At the Hope Fountain milling centre, Daka and Victor milled gold ore and realised 1 604 grammes fine gold, which they have allegedly failed to account for. Mr Van Rooyen is reported to have discovered the offence on 17 August 2016 and stopped the accused persons from entering his claim. The value of the alleged stolen gold is $64 080 and nothing was recovered, according to the court.
