Another man appears in court in Bhola Hardware theft

Paidamoyo Bore

A 30-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court over theft charges involving trust property worth US$12 107.

Justice Mahuni pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi, who granted him $50 000 bail.

It is the State’s case that on July 15, Bhola Hardware, being represented by Amon Shumba, intended to pay Customs Clearance Duty for their cellphones at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

Shumba engaged the company’s agent responsible for various transactions, Fungai Chikonyora, and gave him money for duty clearance.

The court heard that Chikonyora did not pay Zimra, but subcontracted Chakanetsa Chikonyora and Lewis Chichera to do the transactions.

When duty was not paid, Chakanetsa and Chichera were arrested, and they in turn implicated Mahuni, who they said they had given the money.

It is alleged Mahuni was given the money to pay duty on behalf of the two, but he converted the money to his own use.

Nothing was recovered.

Zebedia Bofu led the State.