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TOP PSMAS officials, who appeared in court last Friday, will be back in court today to hear their bail determination.
PSMAS chief executive Farai Muchena, Victor Chaipa, Cosmas Mukwesha and Shingai Mabuto appeared before regional magistrate, Taurai Manuwere.
They were back in court yesterday to finalise their bail application.
The State is opposing bail, saying there is a high risk of interference, as the State witnesses are their subordinates.
It is the State’s case that in January 2015 and January 2017, PSMI appointed board members, Colonel Wellington Tutisa, Cecilia Alexandra, Richard Gundani, Vimbikal Magnes, Kusema, Loveness Dumwa, A Friend, Miriam Chahuruwa, T Shaw and Dr E Purazi to undertake the company’s strategic decisions.
The board members signed contracts of appointment for the period January 2015 to January 2018.
It is alleged that sometime in December 2018, Muchena and Chaipa, acting in common purpose, diverted PSMI funds, entrusted to them, by approving yearly payment of holiday allowances to the board members, which they were not entitled to.
Tulisa, the board chair, is said to have allegedly received holiday allowances of US$45 902 while the vice-chairperson, Cecilia Alexander, got US$22 249.
The others each got S$6 746.
Claims are that US$115 373 was taken from PSMI.
It is alleged that in 2019, the suspects together with onem Tafadzwa Gutu, who is still at large, approved holiday allowances for the nine board members.
It prejudiced PSMI of US$243 000.
It is further alleged that in 2020, Mabuto, working in common purpose with Gutu, diverted funds by approving holiday allowances to eight board members.
This amounted to $5 084 176, which they were not entitled to.
It is also alleged that last year, Gutu and Mabuto approved holiday allowances, amounting to $9 372 522, for the nine board members, which they were not entitled to.
Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter