NELSPRUIT – The man facing seven fraud charges in three courts appeared in two of them this past week.
Mr Derek Poole appeared in the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on a charge of fraud. He was released on R2 000 bail on November 4 after being arrested in the Kruger National Park on October 29.
Ms Carol van der Westhuizen of GAP Tours laid the charge against him. She alleged that Poole owed her about R25 000 for taking a tour group of his on safari on June 17. The case has been postponed to February 6.
The accused also appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He faces five counts of fraud amounting to over R1 million from charges laid against him in Midrand. He had been released on R5 000 bail. Poole’s next court appearance in Gauteng is on January 30.
Next week, he is also to appear in court in Nelspruit on a charge of fraud and on one count of assault. He was released on R2 000 bail on November 5. The fraud charge relates to complaints levelled against Poole by Mr Victor Pitchers who claims he was defrauded of approximately R150 000 through a business, Kurger’s Hub, which they ran together.
The assault charge stems from Mr Louis-John Havemann who claims Poole hit him in April during an argument over unpaid rent.
