S. African Free State: Gold smuggling and money laundering case closes
The State has closed its case in the Free State High Court in a matter relating to 133 charges of racketeering, gold smuggling, the unlawful processing of gold and money-laundering of nearly approximately R10 billion.
The State lead its case for nearly 100 court days and put forward 82 witnesses during that time. The investigating officer spent 15 days completing his testimony. The underlying “gold syndicate” allegedly operated between 1999 and 2008 when its members were arrested.
Some of the accused have apparently implicated the Msimango brothers (one of whom was killed pending trial in 2012), who, allegedly, managed the syndicate, as well as at least 10 other suspects. The Msimango brothers have plead not guilty to all charges.
Anti-Fraud & Corruption Law in Africa 