Photographer charged with theft

2003-06-05 21:07

Cape Town - Cape Town police confirmed on Thursday that they were investigating a charge of theft against award-winning freelance photojournalist Benny Gool.

"We are possibly going to Pretoria next week to interview a man who allegedly bought two stolen cameras from Gool," said investigating officer Heathcote Mtani.

According to a signed statement handed in to the police by a former colleague of Gool's, Henry Ludski, Gool allegedly stole two Nikon cameras with a combined value of about R16 000.

According to the statement, Ludski discovered his Nikon F90X camera was missing from his office cabinet during December 2002. He further states that he had given another Nikon F90 camera to Gool for safekeeping. Needing a camera later, he asked for the Nikon F90. Gool apparently denied having it.

According to the statement, Gool later recalled that an SABC journalist and apprentice photographer had used the camera on previous occasions.

According to Ludski, he saw the SABC journalist with what appeared to be his camera at the North Sea Jazz Festival. He later arranged a meeting with this journalist after apparently confirming over the telephone that Gool had sold the camera to the journalist.

Ludski asserts in the statement that the serial number of the camera at the meeting was identical to the stolen camera and also matched his insurance company's records.

According to Ludski, he became suspicious and felt that Gool had also removed his other camera out of his office. Upon investigation with the security company guarding his premises, Ludski said he discovered that Gool had entered the premises during the time the first camera disappeared. According to Ludski, he told Gool he would lay two charges of theft against him, but Gool still denied any wrongdoing.

Gool did not want to comment on the matter, saying on Thursday that he had "no comment at this stage until such time as I've got more information".

- SAPA