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Fredrick Lutzkie

Court Reporter
South African businessman Fredrick Wilhelm August Lutzkie, who crashed his helicopter in Gwanda and buried the wreckage after entering Zimbabwe illegally and is now appealing against a jail sentence, has been given his passport back temporarily to see his South African doctor.

Harare magistrate Mr Milton Serima temporarily released Lutzkie’s passport which he is to return to the clerk of court by February 20.

According to his lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Lutzkie needs to visit his South African doctor to receive medication.

Lutzkie (52) was granted US$2 000 bail pending his appeal against a three-and-a-half-year sentence in June last year.

He was also ordered to deposit US$25 000 with the clerk of court as surety after Harare magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe ruled that he was not a flight risk.

As part of his bail conditions Lutzkie was ordered to surrender his passport, live at No. 9 Chaplin Road, Bulawayo, and report every Monday at CID Bulawayo Central.

Lutzkie pleaded guilty to 14 counts of contravening the Civil Aviation and Immigration Acts and was sentenced to seven years behind bars.

Mr Chikwekwe suspended half the sentence on condition he does not commit similar offences.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza said from February 1 to 28 last year, Lutzkie flew his helicopter from South Africa to Doddieburn Range in Gwanda, where he runs a game farm.

He was flying without permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.

On May 5, Lutzkie flew from a lodge in Gwanda to South Africa but crashed 4km after take-off.

Lutzkie dug a pit with an excavator and buried the  wreckage.