The battle for freedom by incarcerated Kwekwe Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) owner Lee Jones took a new twist yesterday after it emerged his arrest over alleged fraudulent activities was politically motivated.
One of the three lawyers representing Jones, Admire Rubaya, pleaded with Harare magistrate Anita Tshuma to grant his client bail in order to save his mine. Rubaya said Jones employed over 200 workers and never at any stage did he attempt to sell the mining business.
According to the defence, this is a ploy by political hawks who want to grab the mines from Jones, said Rubaya.
Your worship if he (Jones) is remanded in custody, his mine is gone.
Magistrate Tshuma is today expected to make a ruling on Jones application for bail which was opposed by the State on the grounds that Jones was not a suitable candidate for bail.
Under cross-examination by Jones lawyer, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Tapiwa Zvidza said granting bail to the accused person would jeopardise investigations.
I want to reiterate that we are going to arrest him again for other offences. I know him as a crook and he does everything fraudulently, said Zvidza.
Jones was arrested by police from Harare Border Control and Minerals Unit on allegations of fraudulently acquiring Chaka Plant and the surrounding gold claims.
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Rubaya suggested that the court considers, among other things, granting Jones $1 000 bail or placing him under house arrest, ordering him to surrender deeds of transfer of the mine and to report to the police as many times as the State would want.
