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The Herald,  May 12, 1965

A COLOURED man who was found in possession of gold worth 10 pence was sent to jail for three months yesterday when he was convicted at Salisbury Magistrates Court of contravening the Gold Trade Act.

Michael Harry Ladislaus pleaded not guilty before Mr K.P. Hough.

He was found guilty and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour, but three months of the sentence were conditionally suspended for three years.

Ladislaus was arrested by members of the CID when he was stopped while driving along Rezende Street at about 2.30pm on April 16.

He was then searched by Detective Section Officer B. Cotton, who was with Detective Sergeant Mhembere, and was found in possession of gold worth 10 pence.

Ladislaus denied the charge, saying that he did not know the person who had placed the gold in his pockets. Mr M. Spencer-Cook appeared for the crown

LESSONS FOR TODAY

Mining remains the country’s largest foreign currency earner, with gold being among the highest.

No amount of gold and its price is too small to be ignored as inconsequential and not warranting arrest and a jail term.

This is why Government is working on ensuring that even small-scale gold miners sell all their gold through official channels.