SANDTON – A witness at last took the stand against Mr Derek Poole in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court last week.
He faces various charges of fraud in Gauteng, as well as in Hazyview and Mbombela. His trials have been postponed numerous times since he was rearrested in Durban in September after skipping on his court appearances while out on bail.
Poole most recently reappeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court in Wynberg, Sandton on March 16. A bank statement from one of the witnesses in the fraud case against him was, however, outstanding. The magistrate postponed the trial until March 30.
The week before Poole also reappeared in the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court where he faces a charge of fraud related to an alleged false proof of payment made to GAP Tours in 2013. The total amounts to about R25 000. On March 12 the usual presiding officer was on sick leave and the caretaker magistrate postponed the case to June 8.
According to the investigating officer, the magistrate and prosecution had previously agreed that Poole could attempt to pay back the money to the complainant. If this fails his trial will resume in June.
In the meantime the accused remains in custody in Johannesburg Central Prison.
