Musina - A 45-year-old Congolese man, arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle unprocessed gold worth R1 million, appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court, the Hawks said on Wednesday.
Jacquim Mbuyi was arrested in September, for allegedly trying to smuggle suspected gold and suspected unprocessed gold while he was driving a truck from Congo to South Africa, said Hawks provincial spokesman Matimba Maluleke. When he arrived at Beitbridge border gate, he failed to disclose the goods he was ferrying.
His truck was sent to a scanner by South African Revenue Services officials and 2kg of suspected gold and 436kg of suspected unprocessed gold to the value of over R1 million rand was found in his possession, Maluleke said.
Maluleke said the man allegedly tried to bribe officials with R800 for his truck not to be scanned.
He appeared in court on Monday, and his hearing was postponed to October 12 for formal bail application.
African News Agency