THOHOYANDOU - Frustration was written all over the face of Dorcas Mado Pitso, as Magistrate Jonathan Rapudi denied her bail during a hearing on Friday afternoon in the Thohoyandou Regional Court.

Announcing his decision before an overcrowded courtroom comprising mainly of people who invested more than R15m in the fraudulent scheme, Rapudi stated that he was "denying bail and postponed the case until April, 16 2003."

Investors stormed out of court chanting, while Pitso's husband, Futumba Kay Kay Kwezi, accused number two in the case, led her out of the court. Kwezi, a Zambian national, did not apply for bail.

Rapudi said he was convinced that Pitso could run away if she can be granted bail, as she has a lot of money. Earlier, the investigating officer, Capt Nematswerani told the court that he confirmed Pitso's identity with the police in Bellville, Cape Town and in Kimberley, who also wanted her for fraud. He said he has confirmed that she was wanted in Goodwood for fraud of R1, 8m, following the case where she allegedly sold a house to a fake person. This case was opened in June, this year.

Nematswerani said he couldn't reveal the information about the case in Kimberley as it was still being investigated by the police. The case was opened in 1996.

About her movements, Nematswerani said he has established that Pitso visited London and Windhoek, Namibia where she has processed some money. Because of that, he said the issue needs further investigation while she is still in custody, to recover the investor's money.

Nematswerani said it is possible that Pitso could run away if granted bail as he has been looking for her for the past five years. "Her father has also disappeared," he said. Pitso's legal representative Sydwell Sikhwari said Nematswerani's presentation was baseless, as Pitso never appeared in court in all the two cases against her. He said that she might never have known that the police were looking for her.

However, Bongani Chauke, who is representing the state, said that information given by Nematswerani was enough to can prove that Pitso was not trustful enough to can be granted bail.

When the court announced that no bail would be given to Pitso, tears were rolled down her cheeks.

The Limpopo Commercial Crime Unit arrested Pitso and Kwezi three months ago in Cape Town and North West. Their arrest came after a long search by the police since the couple disappeared with more than R15 million belonging to more than 500 000 investors from the far north areas.

The couple ran the Kopanang/Tanganani Pyramid Scheme in 1997, before they disappeared in March the same year.