THE High Court has ruled in favour of six former Mbada Diamonds employees whose cars were impounded by the police following reports that the vehicles had been purchased from proceeds of illegal diamond deals.
BY CLAYTON MASEKESA
The High Court last week ordered Mutare police to release the vehicles after the State failed to prove a prima facie case against the ex-Mbada employees.
The State had alleged that the workers bought vehicles using cash derived from illegal diamond deals with Mutare businessman Mudassar Khan.
Khan, who was facing 12 counts of unlawful dealing in or possession of precious stones as defined in Section 3(1) (a) of the Precious Stones and Trade Act, Chapter 21.06, was acquitted last December.
The six — Tendai Gwazaza, Temba Mvalo, Hardlife Kuudzehwe, Simbarashe Gondo, Talkmore Chigeza and Innocent Tsindi — then filed a High Court application through their lawyer Trust Maanda of Maanda and Maunga demanding the release of their vehicles.
They also wrote to Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and the police officers involved notifying them of their intention to sue.
In their affidavits, the six claimed that they were “heavily” tortured by the police and forced to make confessions implicating Khan, hence, arguing that they implicated him as the source of the vehicles under duress.
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The vehicles have already been released.
