Miner was killed as bandits wanted more gold

Trevor Smithet

Bandits fatally shot Kuru Kururu miner Cleveland Smithet because they were not satisfied with the amount of raw gold that he and others handed over during the robbery at Five Star Backdam on Tuesday, according to police.

In the force’s first statement on the incident, the police yesterday said the robbery occurred at about 8am, when Cleveland and Trevor Smithet and a dredge owner, who were on their way out, were attacked by two men armed with guns.

“The men demanded gold and were given a quantity of raw gold. They were apparently not satisfied with that and fatally shot Cleveland Smithet,” police said, while adding that at this