NELSPRUIT – Mr Derek Poole, an alleged serial fraudster, will appear in court again on Thursday after having appeared in court in Midrand, Gauteng, on Monday. At the time of going to press, the outcome of the court case in Gauteng was not yet available.
Poole was recently granted bail of R2 000 bail after he was arrested in the Kruger National Park on October 29. He appeared on fraud charges in the White River Magistrate’s Court.
The charges are related to claims by Ms Carol van der Westuizen of GAP Tours. Van der Westhuizen claimed that Poole owed her about R25 000 after she took a tour group of his on safari and was never paid for the service. A warrant for his arrest had been issued in Hazyview.
Upon his release in White River, Poole was rearrested on charges of fraud and assault for which he appeared in Nelspruit on November 5. He was granted bail of R2 000 by the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court.
The fraud charges are related to complaints levelled against Poole by Mr Victor Pitchers. Lowvelder reported earlier that Poole allegedly defrauded him of approximately R150 000 through a business, Kurger’s Hub, which they ran together.
The assault charge was laid by Mr Louis-John Havemann after Poole allegedly hit him in April during an argument over money Poole owed Havemann in unpaid rent.
Poole’s next court appearances in the Lowveld are scheduled for November 28 in Hazyview and December 5 in Nelspruit.
