Bail applicant Bino Cloete has testified under cross-examination that his brother and co-accused, George Cloete, deposited large sums of money totalling close to N$2 million.

The duo face charges of violating the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and illicit trafficking under the Diamonds Act. 

Cloete told the court that the large sums were transferred in tranches between 29 January 2025 and March 2025 by his brother from his RedotPay Crypto Card to his RedotPay Crypto Card. 

He said at the time of his arrest, his RedotPay Crypto Card account, opened for him by his brother, had a balance of N$800,000. 

Cloete testified that he bought a vehicle and furniture and paid for student accommodation and groceries for his daughter and livestock and toys for his children from the money he received from his brother through bank transfers. 

According to testimony, he would withdraw cash from his RedoPay Crypto Card at ATMs and through cashback transactions at retail shops, with some of the cash deposited into his Bank Windhoek account.  

The court further heard Cloete opened his Bank Windhoek account on 29 January 2025 with a N$13,000 deposit because his previous bank account had been closed due to insufficient funds following his retrenchment from Skorpion Zinc Mine. 

He maintained declaring the source of funds for some deposits into his Bank Windhoek account as proceeds from farming and the sale of vehicles and livestock.  

Although admitting to having received the large sums of money from his brother, Cloete indicated he deliberately referenced the source of funds differently due to security reasons. 

He told the court his brother generated his income from forex trading. 

State Prosecutor Iyaloo Haipinge put it to Cloete that he would agree there was no documentary proof showing his brother earned money from forex trading. 

Cloete disagreed and accused Haipinge of lying, claiming she portrayed him and his brother as already guilty on charges they are facing.