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Pilot may be fined only R53
02/04/2008 15:08 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Should South African pilot Brent Smyth be convicted of immigration transgressions in Zimbabwe, he may have to pay a fine of only R53, his employer, Wessel van den Bergh, said on Wednesday.
Briefing media at Grand Central Airport at Midrand, ATS Helicopters CEO Van den Bergh said according to Smyth a fine of Z$200 000 - roughly R53 - was "the worst case scenario".
Smyth is expected to hear a judge's ruling in a Harare court at about 11:00 on Thursday.
He was arrested last week for alleged fraud and immigration transgressions as he was preparing to ferry Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai to election rallies.
"According to them he overstayed his permit. He was arrested before he could extend his permit that morning (Tuesday)," Van den Bergh said.
He said Smyth was manhandled and an AK47 was pointed at him.
According to Van den Bergh he had not been injured.
Smyth is currently out on bail and in the custody of the South African consulate.
His mother Danielle and his fiancée Drieksie Janse van Rensburg said Smyth was "very positive" and was hoping he would return home to South Africa soon.
Van den Bergh said he felt Smyth's arrest was to further a political agenda.
His mother, however, said Smyth was apolitical.
"With all respect he probably doesn't even know how to spell Mr Mugabe's name, or the opposition parties'.
"He is so unpolitical and very laid back."
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