CHIREDZI – Seven employees at sugar-milling company, Triangle Limited, appeared at the Chiredzi Magistrates Court last Friday facing charges of defrauding their employer of 330 tonnes of sugar using fraudulent invoices.
PATRICK CHITONGO
The suspects, who include Douglas Kutadzaushe, Lovemore Museva, Richard Ngwebu, Samuel Zingoni, Alfonce Chiminya, Joel Marufu and Noel Todini were remanded in custody to today for bail ruling. They were represented by Triangle lawyer Charles Vhudzi.
Public prosecutor Gladmore Gwara told the court that sometime between February 5, 2012 and July last year, the accused, who are employed in different departments in the company, connived to steal 330tonnes of sugar worth $305 240.
They allegedly raised fake invoices and weigh bridge tickets and gave the documents to their buyers. They also gave the same fake documents to a driver identified as Mabusu Nine who transported part of the alleged loot – 180 tonnes — to Renias Madende of Nembudziya business centre in Gokwe while 150 tonnes were sold to Samaz and Sisters in Harare.
The fake invoices and weigh bridge tickets were recovered from Madende in Gokwe.
Last Friday, the State opposed their bail application arguing that the suspects were likely to interfere with investigations since eight other alleged accomplices in the case were still on the run.
The defence, however, told the court that the suspects had given evidence under duress after being assaulted by police detectives. Presiding magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda immediately ordered the State to investigate the assault allegations.
