Hawks spokesperson, S’fiso Nyakane, says Daniel Mathews, April Job, Mosebi Ramohomane, Ishmael Lebone and Innocent Moletsane, a Lesotho national, briefly appeared in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court today after they were apprehended on Tuesday during an intelligence-driven operation.

The case was postponed to next Tuesday when the suspects will apply for bail. Nyakane says a trap was set for four of the suspects at a guest house in Welkom after information was received about the syndicate allegedly selling unrefined gold for an amount of R10 million.

“An entrapment operation was conducted and four of the suspects were arrested upon receiving cash from an undercover police agent. Preliminary investigations led the members to a mine in Welkom where the fifth suspect was arrested for being in the possession of 604 gold coloured nuggets.

Two vehicles, an Opel Corsa and VW Golf, as well as the gold nuggets, were seized and will be sent to the forensic laboratory for analysis. The case was postponed to next week Tuesday, for a formal bail application,” says Nyakane.

OFM News