adminof corruption and fraud involving more than US$150 000.
Jacob Manzunzu allegedly committed the offence between 2000 and 2003 while he was working for the Ministry of Justice, Legal Parliamentary Affairs as the Registrar and Sheriff of the High Court of Zimbabwe.
Manzunzu, who was responsible for authorising auctions at the High Court, reportedly fraudulently auctioned Joy Manyimo’s house for Z$5 700 000 without her knowledge.
Manzunzu was not asked to plead to two counts of fraud and corruption when he was arraigned before magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei. He was granted US$200 bail and was remanded to October 19 for routine remand. Appearing for the State Ms Joyce Sithole alleged that Manyimo bought House Number 3 Rosedean Gardens, Ashdown Park, Harare for Z$1 900 000 from Inchdale Investments (Pvt) Ltd.
An agreement of sale was signed between Manyimo and Adelino Bento, the director of Inchdale Investments (Pvt) Ltd. The ownership transfer was not effected since Bento had gone out of the country, it is alleged.
It is further alleged Inchdale Investments (Pvt) Ltd owed Standard Chartered bank Z$5 000 000.
In a bid to recover its money, the bank identified two of Inchdale Investments properties being Houses Number 1 and 22 Rosedean Gardens, it is alleged.
The bank, the State says, applied at the High Court to auction the houses.
In 2001, the houses were auctioned for Z$5 700 000 and Manzunzu allegedly corruptly bought one of the houses which Tichaona Samuriwo had bid for, the State says.
It is the State’s case that Samuriwo complained against Manzunzu over the purchasing of the house. However, in a bid to cover up, Manzunzu connived with Samuriwo, Patrick Nyeperayi and Clemence Mahuni who have since appeared in court and hatched a plan to defraud Manyimo.
In pursuant to their plan, the quartet, it is alleged purported as if the bank had also identified Manyimo’s house for auctioning.
As a result the house was sold to Samuriwo for Z$5 700 000 by the High Court through a purported private treaty without Manyimo’s knowledge.
A police report was made leading to the arrest of the trio in 2003 while Manzunzu who had relocated to Botswana was arrested on September 12 this year.
According to the State, the value of the Zim dollars is equivalent to US$151 500.
Online Reporter