ENG director set free

withdrew the fraud charges he was facing before plea.
However, the Belvedere house whose title deeds he had surrendered to the court as surety and the ZW$150 million bail money deposited were all forfeited to the State after the court confirmed the warrant of arrest. The house in question was valued at Z$700 million at the time Muponda was granted bail. Appearing for the AG, Harare area public prosecutor, Mr Jonathan Murombedzi, successfully applied for the withdrawal of the charges before provincial magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe. Mr Murombedzi said since the matter was an old one, the AG needed time to consider the docket. Mr Guvamombe had no option but to grant the application. The prosecutor confirmed the withdrawal.
Muponda handed himself over to police on Wednesday after his return to Zimbabwe and was subsequently remanded in custody when he appeared before a Harare magistrate. He was facing 31 counts of fraud, 12 counts of theft, seven counts of violating the Serious Offences Act and several Exchange Control charges. – CR.