HARARE magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa yesterday dismissed an application for exception to the fraud charges levelled against eight Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) bosses.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
The suspects — Timothy Simfukwe, Liberty Mahembe, Moses Jemedze, Tjiyapo Velempini, Charles Manjengwa, Anna Mtombodzi and Thokhozile Mrewa — applied to have the their charges quashed, arguing the State could not arraign them with two similar charges at the same time.
However, the magistrate dismissed the application and instead, ordered the State to amend the charges to come up with one main charge and other alternative charges if need be.
The magistrate also ordered the accused persons to plead to the amended charges, while the defence begged the court to instruct the State to provide a trial date on the next remand date, failure which they hinted they would apply for further remand refusal.
The suspects are facing fraud allegations and breaching sections of Customs Act.
One of the suspects, Charlton Chihuri, is allegedly on the run after being released on $500 bail.
The State alleges sometime between June and July last year, the suspects connived with car dealers and clearing agents at Beitbridge Border Post, where they undervalued imported cars, thereby swindling the State of thousands of dollars.
