SA Chopper Tycoon Loses Passport

THE South African business magnate convicted for concealing evidence after his chopper crashed in Zimbabwe has been told he cannot leave the country after violating his bail conditions.

Frederick Wilhelm Lutzkie, 52, was out on $27,000 bail appealing both the conviction and the sentence.

His chopper crashed on May 5 in Matabeleland South’s Gwanda district after developing mechanical problems and the businessman allegedly buried the wreckage to hide evidence of the accident.

According to prosecutors, the flight had not been cleared by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) and Lutzkie is also alleged to have flown the plane below radar in a suspected gold-smuggling racket.

The businessman was sentenced to 42 months before he appealed at the High Court.

Magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe last week allowed temporary release of Lutzkie’s passport after he requested to travel to South Africa.

Lutzkie was told to return the document by July 7th but he failed to do so and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He however handed himself over leading to the variation of his bail conditions.

In his defence, Lutzkie claimed he was held and detained by Immigration officials who professed ignorance over his release.

But Chikwekwe ordered him not to travel outside the country until his appeal has been dealt with at the High court.