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HARARE CAR dealer and socialite, Matthew Musengezi, is back in remand custody, which has been some sort of his “home” in the past three weeks, after he appeared in court yesterday facing fraud charges involving the importation of cars.
Musengezi was arrested on Monday by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission officers, as he was leaving Harare Remand Prison, after he had been acquitted in a culpable homicide case in which a man, who was celebrating his birthday, died after an accident in Harare.
Musengezi had been held for 19 days in a culpable homicide case. He was convicted of failing to stop after an accident and was fined US$150. He was also banned from driving for 30 days.
In his latest appearance in court, Musengezi appeared to be finally buckling under the pressure of his time under the spotlight, for all the wrong reasons. The three weeks spent in remand prison also appear to be taking its toll on him, a man whose life, until now, was about spending time in cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles in the United States.
As ZACC officers led him into court, Musengezi turned to journalists, who were filming his arrival. He accused them of writing “lies” in his cases and, at one stage, stopped and paraded his face for the cameras.
In his latest brush with the law, the complainant is the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, represented by Epson Moyo, the Supervisor, under the Motor Traffic Division.
The State consented to bail yesterday, but the magistrate said it should justify why Musengezi should be granted bail. That ruling meant Musengezi had to spend another night in remand prison.
He is expected back in court today where the State is expected to justify why it consented to the bail application by the defence yesterday. 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. The matter was remanded to today for the State to justify its consent to bail in the matter.
(H-Metro)
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter