The accused, Fanie Paulos Msimango (41) appeared in the Welkom Magistrates’ Court along with Evelyn Pule (35) and Edwin Makhakhe (45) on Tuesday, 9 February 2021. Msimango is facing charges of illegal possession of suspected gold-bearing material, possession of suspected stolen property, fraud and money laundering. The other two are facing charges of money laundering and perjury.
Their charges emanate from the incident which took place on 9 March 2020 where the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation searched Msimango’s house and uncovered gold bearing material, gold dust and R441 900. All items that were recovered were seized including two vehicles, a Jeep and a BMW. He was arrested on the day of the search and was later released on a R10 000 bail.
During the investigation, the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team interviewed Pule and Makhakhe as witnesses on the case which later it was discovered that they both lied under oath. Last week, a warrant of arrest was issued against them and they handed themselves over to the police on Tuesday, 9 February 2021.
The case against the trio was postponed to 3 May 2021 for provisional transfer. Pule and Makhakhe were released on R5000 bail each whilst Msimango is still out on R10 000 bail.