Four illegal miners denied bail
The four suspects were remanded in custody and are expected to appear again at the same court on the March 16 for verification of addresses.
Four illegal miners were denied bail by the Ogies Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The suspects Forget Mwatutsa, Forward Kavunga, Orbet Nyaora and Arming Mcucune were arrested for illegal processing of gold.
Following a search at the farm, a vehicle and gold-bearing material estimated to worth R400 000 were seized.
The three suspects were arrested by Members of Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit Middelburg, Secunda and South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) earlier this month during an operation conducted at a farm in Ogies.
Mwatutsa, Kavunga, and Mcucune were found at the farm, working, and they alleged that they were employed by Nyaora. Nyaora was phoned and upon arrival at the farm, he tried to bribe the police with R6 000. He was immediately arrested.
The four suspects were remanded in custody and are expected to appear again at the same court on the March 16 for verification of addresses and further investigation.
