Kwekwe Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) owner Lee Jones was yesterday arrested by police from Harare Border Control and Minerals Unit on allegations of fraudulently acquiring Chaka Plant and the surrounding gold claims, his lawyer has confirmed.
His lawyer Valentine Mutatu told NewsDay Jones was ambushed as he entered KCGM premises in Kwekwe by armed police details who immediately confiscated his mobile phone before taking him to Harare.
He was arrested as if he is a dangerous criminal who has been on the run for a long time, Mutatu said.
The police lay in wait for Jones and when he got to the gate they pounced on him and whisked him away without giving him a chance to speak even to his lawyers.
He said they were battling to secure Jones release from police custody ahead of the Easter holidays which begins today.
We are not sure of where he is being held at the moment, but we are busy trying to secure his release and avoid having him detained over the holiday, Mutatu said.
Jones, of Australian origin, has Zimbabwean citizenship. He is currently embroiled in a wrangle over ownership of Chaka Gold Mine with Midkwe Minerals owned by Buhera North Zanu PF MP William Mutomba and Smelly Dube.
The Zimbabwe Federation of Mines led by Arnold Mandaba has accused Jones of fraudulently buying the mine from a trust company run by former Globe and Phoenix workers.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
We have filed a criminal complaint against Jones over the fraudulent acquisition of the mine which should legally belong to Globe and Phoenix Workers Trust and we will not rest until justice is met, Mandaba said.
But Jones has denied the charge. In his warned and cautioned statement marked ER02/12, Jones said he had been co-operating with police investigations into the matter since 2008.
I have previously provided written and verbal statements to various officers of the law on the same matter over the past eight years, reads part of the statement.
