A Chinhoyi magistrate yesterday removed from remand the town’s former director of finance William Mandinde and four other co-accused facing $79 000 fraud charges, after turning down the State’s request for more time to prepare for the case.
The initial trial date was on October 20 last year, but since then there had been numerous false starts.
The five yesterday appeared before magistrate Jele Singandu who threw out the State’s application for further remand.
The matter would proceed by way of summons in the event that investigations were completed and sufficient evidence was gathered to put the case to trial, ruled the magistrate.
Mandinde had been jointly charged with Arnold Madhuze, Ellison Chikwazvo, Polite Chikapu and Vincent Chafausipo.
The fraud and gross mismanagement of public funds charges emanated from a damning financial management audit that was conducted in 2011 at the behest of Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo.
The audit revealed that Mandinde collected and pocketed $71 433 cash at the main revenue collection point between February 24, 2009 and October 25, 2010. It was also established that he did not bank cheques amounting to $79 629, 68. He also allegedly claimed $2 020 for medication despite being on full medical cover.
The ex-treasurer was further allegedly given $7 100 being payment for a stand but only accounted for $2 720 while $4 650 could not be accounted for.
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George Mudzikitiri represented the State, while the accused were represented by Mike Mutsvairo and James Magodora.
