A SENIOR Central Intelligence Organisation district intelligence officer, Mbereki Mbizo Nyathi, who together with an Indian national, Abdul Ismael, is facing charges of stealing a motor vehicle from South Africa, has submitted a supplementary affidavit at the High Court professing innocence in the alleged carjacking syndicate.
BY CHARLES LAITON
The two suspects, through their lawyer Admire Rubaya, said they had nothing to do with the stolen vehicle, adding Ismael got the BMW 320D from one Hillary Nduna as collateral.
The duo said Nduna also confessed to police he got the vehicle from Sam Marufu who admitted to police being the source of the vehicle in question.
“What is clear now is that the motor vehicle in question was not stolen at all. That is the reason why the sources of the motor vehicle (that is Sam Marufu and Hillary Nduna) were not even arrested by police,” the suspects said in their affidavit.
Rubaya further said there was no report whatsoever that the motor vehicle was stolen in any manner and there was no evidence of his clients’ involvement in the introduction of the vehicle into the country.
“Consequent to this investigation the Officer Commanding Vehicle Theft Squad Chief Superintendent Mutodza and his deputy Superintendent Kambanga then approached the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) informing them that as the investigation team there was no longer any reason for the opposition of bail,” he said.
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The lawyer said senior public prosecutor, Eastern Division, Tawanda Zvekare in consultation with the two senior police officers in charge of the Vehicle Theft Squad took a position not to oppose bail and drafted a consent document which was copied to the lawyers.
Meanwhile, Marufu (34) and Nduna (41) appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with vehicle theft and were remanded in custody after their bail applications were opposed by the State.
According to the State, Marufu, Nduna, Ismael and Nyathi allegedly stole the vehicle from South Africa last year while working in cahoots with their associates in that country.
Ismael is alleged to have obtained a fraudulent registration book from the Central Vehicle Registry and also evaded payment of import duty to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
After registering the vehicle, Ismael is said to have taken it to Nyathi for safekeeping, taking advantage of his position as a senior State security agent.
Nyathi is then said to have started using the stolen vehicle, leading to his arrest.
The matter is set to be argued today before High Court judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba. Edmore Makoto appeared for the State.
