adminby a Harare magistrate.
Harare magistrate Mr Rodgers Kachambwa denied Lee Waverley Jones’ application to have his passport back saying he never made an equivalent application before the courts.
Mr Kachambwa said Jones, who is also accused of smuggling gold out of the country using his private aircraft, previously made similar applications through the Attorney-General’s office and ordered him to use the same channel.
Mr Kachambwa deferred the matter to July 18 after prosecutors Ms Purity Chikangaise and Mr Allan Goche consented with Jones’ lawyer Mr Shelton Mahuni.
Ms Chikangaise said she was waiting for a transcript of the whole matter since the day it commenced before the courts and verification of documentary evidence produced by Jones to determine its authenticity.
The State alleges that between February 2002 and February 2005, Jones illegally mined gold claims of a company called KCGM after he assumed ownership.
He prepared a non-tribute agreement between a company called Homestake Mining and Technical Services and Kwekwe Consolidated Gold Mines (Private) Limited which he used to sign agreements as the Guarantor and owner of KCGM.
He allegedly wrote a letter to KCGM workers advising them that he was the new managing director of Homestake Mining and Technical Services.
Since then Jones has been giving tributes and special grants to different people and companies, receiving royalties worth more than US$437 479 without mining rights from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Jones was declared a prohibited immigrant in May 2009 after he was convicted of illegally representing KCGM or Homestake before he was fined US$400, says the State.
Online Reporter