AFTER A TOUGH THREE WEEKS, DEALER MUSENGEZI CAN SMILE

Zvikomborero Parafini 

AFTER a tough three weeks, which he has largely spent in remand prison, car dealer Matthew Musengezi heaved a huge sigh of relief yesterday when he was granted bail in a car smuggling case.

There was also some good news for Musengezi.

The prosecutor appeared to even question why he was arrested in the car smuggling case.

Yesterday, the State successfully justified why they were consenting to his application for bail.

During his initial appearance on Wednesday, Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa ordered the State to justify why they believed Musengezi was a suitable candidate for bail.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, whose officers nabbed him just after he had been released from remand prison where he had spent 19 days on a different case, had opposed bail. 

Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti said an inquiry was done before the State came to the conclusion that he was suitable candidate for bail.

“According the papers prepared by ZACC it was alleged that he has a tendency of fleeing and telling law enforcement officers that he is in USA and an inquiry was done and we are convinced that he’s not a flight risk and has remained compliant whenever he has been called  by law enforcement officials.

“He attended voluntarily to the police in the previous matter, which was completed, and he doesn’t have any pending cases.

“We considered the documentary evidence, which we are in possession of with regards to this matter and on all documents, his name doesn’t appear as the one who imported or owned the vehicles in question.

“One Lovemore Kudzanai Mafusire deposed an affidavit on May 17 and categorically claimed ownership of the vehicles in question and has taken ZACC and Elisha Chimusoro to the High Court seeking release of those vehicles which he bought himself and nowhere is he (Musengezi) mentioned.

“He’s only being linked through word of mouth by the four witnesses who will testify in trial and while is alleged that he will interfere with the witnesses, we believe that law enforcement officers can deal with that if it arises and appropriate measures can be imposed to ensure he doesn’t interfere,” he said.

Convinced, Magistrate Gofa ordered Musengezi to pay US$500 bail and to report twice a week at ZACC offices as well as not to interfere with witnesses until the matter is finalised.

Allegations are that on September 1, last year, at Beitbridge Border Post, Musengezi fraudulently imported a 2020 Ford Ranger with chassis number 6FPXXMJ2PLG06685.

Thereafter, according to the allegations, Musengezi allegedly went on to generate fraudulent invoices purporting that he had procured Ford Ranger engine parts, and accessories, from a non-existent company in Guruve.

On September 7, he proceeded to present the motor vehicle with falsified documents at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), Eastlea, where it was fraudulently certified as a rebuilt model.

After this process, he allegedly approached ZIMRA Harare Port and presented the fraudulent documentation and obtained a Customs Clearance Certificate, which he subsequently used to register the motor vehicle.

It is the State’s case that on December 5, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission received information about this fraudulent activity and investigations revealed that a 2020 Toyota Fortuner SUV, with registration number AGE 5418, was also illegally imported and registered.

The 2020 Toyota Fortuner SUV does not have any import history, but was purported to have been purchased at a ZIMRA public auction rummage sale.

Further investigations led to the recovery of the 2020 Toyota Fortuner SUV from Prince Takunda Murove, who indicated that the motor vehicle was bought by the company he works for, Better Brands, from one Tinashe Mureyane, the owner of La Parada Car Sale, situated at the corner of Harare and Sam Nujoma Avenue Extension.

Further investigations led to the recovery of the Ford Ranger at La Parada where it was established that both vehicles belonged to Musengezi.

 The State claims ZIMRA lost US$40 000 from the fraudulent transactions.