Russian wants gold back

A RUSSIAN second hand jeweller is in the process of trying to reclaim two kilogrammes of 99 percent fine gold and R4 million in cash that were seized from him, during a SAPS roadblock on the N1 road near Colesberg last year. The confiscated items are now the subject of a criminal investigation.

A black bag containing the money was found in the boot of a blue Polo Volkswagen with a GP registration, which was travelling from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

The money as well as a white envelope containing two kilogrammes of gold were confiscated at the Colesberg police station on November 29 2017.

According to a Hawks investigation into charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering, the money in the jewellery register of Oditrim (Pty) Ltd was, “far more” than the money that was paid for the second hand goods.

Oditrim, that deals in second hand jewellery, has branches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria and trades in scrap precious metals including silver, gold and platinum that is sold to a refinery.

The company indicated that it dealt exclusively with Cape Precious Metals (CPM) refinery, as it was prepared to deal in cash.

The report into the business operations of the branches, based on an analysis of all registers and receipt books, is expected to be released this month.

The matter was postponed in the Northern Cape High Court last week after the court dismissed an application for the matter to be heard on an urgent basis on December 22 2017.

In court documents, Lieutenant Colonel Mthandeni Vincent Zuma, employed at SAPS litigation and legal services, indicated that they were busy finalising the investigation that was at “a very crucial point”.

“The seized goods cannot at