adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
TWO Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officers stationed at Beitbridge border post who were last week arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office after they allegedly illegally detained a truckload of liquor, have been granted $200 bail each. Obert Tafadzwa Charamba, 35, a loss control officer and Stephen Masimuke, 50, a supervisor, are accused of detaining a truck belonging to Turkey Trading of Bulawayo between December 23 and January 14 this year.
The two, who are denying the charges, were released on bail with consent from the Prosecutor-General’s office and will now stand trial on April 21.
Through their lawyer, Reason Mutimba of Masawi and Partners, the two men successfully applied for $200 bail each pending trial when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Gloria Takundwa last week.
Their freedom was, however, short-lived when the state led by Jabulani Mberesi invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
The law authorises further detention of people who would have been granted bail.
Charamba and Masimuke were released from remand prison yesterday and ordered to report to Harare Central and Beitbridge Urban police stations respectively once after every fortnight on a Friday and not to interfere with witnesses as part of the bail conditions.
Allegations are that on December 23, last year Turkey Trading Pvt (Ltd) of Bulawayo imported a consignment of liquor from South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post.
The company then enlisted the services of ASB Freight as their clearing agent to facilitate the importation of the liquor, which was done at Zimra Beitbridge under bill of entry number C93285 of December 23, 2014.
The truck was then released by other Zimra officials to leave the border and was later intercepted by Charamba and Masimuke who referred it to the container depot for further physical examination which was done on the following day.
It is said no anomaly was picked, but the two insisted on the truck’s detention without giving any reason.
The truck and the cargo remained lodged at the depot until January 14, prompting the owners to report the matter to the police. They also lodged an application at the High Court for the release of the truck.
The High Court in turn ordered its unconditional release.
Investigations were then carried out and it was established that Charamba and Masimuke did not issue any legal documents (Notice of seizure and duty schedule) as proof that the truck and the cargo were being detained legally at the container depot.
Under normal customs procedures, an importer is issued with a notice of seizure accompanied by a duty schedule in cases where they will have smuggled or underpaid excise or customs duty.
Further investigations revealed that the said consignment was never entered into the Zimra books as having been detained and the two were subsequently arrested.
Online Reporter