Miners accused of US$30 million mining claims scam

Two Bulawayo-based miners have appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Court facing fraud charges after allegedly orchestrating a scheme that resulted in the unlawful takeover of a mining company and assets valued at approximately US$30 million.

John Farley Pietersen and Mark Johnstone appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate Jesse Kufa charged with two counts of fraud.

The pair were granted bail of US$500 each and remanded to July 24, 2026.

According to the State, the complainant is DGL Finance Limited, a company incorporated in Mauritius and the sole lawful shareholder of All Aflame Marketing (Private) Limited through its ownership of 170 ordinary shares.

All Aflame Marketing is the holder of extensive mining claims in Filabusi known as the Royal Family Claims.

The company is represented by David Peter Easterbrook, who served as an executive director of All Aflame Marketing and is also a complainant in his personal capacity together with Allan Brent Dolan.

Prosecutors allege that Pietersen and Johnstone were applicants in High Court case HC 5655/25, in which All Aflame Marketing was cited among several respondents.

The State contends that the accused deliberately served court documents at 105 Plumtree Road in Bulawayo despite allegedly knowing that the company no longer operated from that address.

According to court papers, the Sheriff of the High Court had previously issued a return of service in August 2025 indicating that the company was no longer located at the premises.

Prosecutors further allege that the accused were fully aware that All Aflame Marketing's correct service address was 3 Wolverhampton Road, Donnington, Bulawayo, having previously served legal documents at that location.

The State alleges that by serving documents at an outdated address, the accused intentionally misled the High Court into believing that proper service had been effected, resulting in the matter being treated as unopposed.

As a consequence, the court allegedly granted a default judgment in their favour.

According to the prosecution, the judgment awarded the accused a 57.45 percent shareholding in All Aflame Marketing, thereby prejudicing DGL Finance Limited and its directors.

The State further alleges that the pair subsequently relied on High Court order HC 5655/25, dated February 5, 2026, to approach the Registrar of Companies and alter the company's directorship structure.

Prosecutors claim the accused falsely represented that Easterbrook and Dolan had resigned as directors on May 13, 2026, and that they were now the lawful owners and directors of the company.

The court heard that the accused allegedly knew the court order did not provide for the removal of the directors and that neither Easterbrook nor Dolan had resigned.

Despite this, the Registrar of Companies allegedly acted on the representations and recorded Pietersen and Johnstone as directors while removing Easterbrook and Dolan.

The State contends that the alleged misrepresentations resulted in the unlawful transfer of control over All Aflame Marketing and its mining assets.

Through these actions, prosecutors say the complainants suffered losses amounting to approximately US$30 million, representing the value of the company and its mining claims.

The matter is expected to return to court on July 24 as investigations continue and the prosecution prepares to present further evidence.