Peter Matika [email protected]
TWO Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officers accused of manipulating the customs clearance system to facilitate the alleged evasion of more than US$549 000 in import duty on two luxury vehicles have been granted US$500 bail each.
Edwin Mhondiwa Chabuda (43) and Upenyu Chaurura (51), both stationed at Plumtree Border Post, allegedly falsified electronic records to show that the vehicles had exited Zimbabwe when they were still in the country.
One of the vehicles is a South African-registered Lamborghini Urus valued at US$818 689,69, reportedly belonging to Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of the late former President Robert Mugabe. The other is a Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 valued at US$162 360,51.
The vehicles were reportedly discovered at Brompton Guest House in Newlands, Harare, during an operation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira granted the two officers bail when they appeared in court yesterday facing separate counts of criminal abuse of duty as public officers, as defined under Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
They were remanded to November 25.
As part of their bail conditions, the accused were ordered to reside at their given residential addresses, surrender their passports, report once a week at Plumtree Police Station and not interfere with State witnesses.
According to the State, the alleged scheme involved manipulating the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), the electronic platform used to process customs declarations and related transactions.
Prosecuting, Mr Vusani Moyo told the court that the officers allegedly recorded the vehicles as having exited the country without physically examining them to verify their movements, thereby circumventing procedures governing vehicles operating under Temporary Import Permits (TIPs).
In the first count, Chabuda is accused of facilitating the fraudulent clearance of the Lamborghini, registration number TL 00 GP, allegedly acting in connivance with Tafadzwa Pedzisai, who is still at large.
The State alleges that on July 12 this year, at Plumtree Border Post, Chabuda, whose duties included physically examining vehicles before processing their clearance in the ASYCUDA system, recorded the
Lamborghini as having exited Zimbabwe without establishing its physical presence at the border.
“On July 12 this year, at Plumtree Border Post, Chabuda, whose duties include physically examining vehicles before processing their clearance in the ASYCUDA system, allegedly recorded the Lamborghini as having exited Zimbabwe without establishing its physical presence at the border,” said Mr Moyo.
The alleged conduct prejudiced ZIMRA of customs revenue amounting to US$469 472,75.
In the second count, Chaurura is accused of facilitating the fraudulent clearance of the Mercedes-Benz GLE, registration number NB76MMGP.
The State alleges that on October 2, he knowingly acquitted the vehicle in the ASYCUDA system, effectively confirming that it had exited the country despite not having conducted the mandatory physical examination.
“On October 2 this year, Chaurura knowingly acquitted the vehicle in the ASYCUDA system, effectively confirming that it had exited the country, despite not having conducted the mandatory physical examination,” said Mr Moyo.
The alleged transaction resulted in potential customs revenue prejudice of US$79 818,31, with the two counts involving a combined US$549 291,06.
The officers were represented by Mr Simbarashe Innocent Madzivire of Mashayamombe Company and Attorneys.
The allegations follow investigations into how the two foreign-registered vehicles remained at a property in Newlands despite official records reportedly indicating that they had exited Zimbabwe through Plumtree Border Post.
Investigators reportedly established that the vehicles had been kept at the Brompton Road property for more than a month, raising questions about their importation status and compliance with customs requirements.
ZACC seized the vehicles on November 3 following an intelligence-led operation after receiving information that they were being kept in the country beyond the periods permitted under their temporary importation arrangements.
The Lamborghini had reportedly entered Zimbabwe in June.
The seizure operation also attracted public attention after Mugabe and four other men were arrested over allegations of assaulting a ZACC investigator during the operation. That matter is separate from the charges now facing the two ZIMRA officers.
