Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
Court Reporter
HARARE regional magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka has sentenced a man, who was found in possession of three kilogrammes of gold without a permit, to five years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Phiri of Mulungishi Village, Lusaka, Zambia, was convicted after a full trial. Prosecutor Kudakwashe Muza proved that on October 28, detectives received information indicating that Phiri intended to smuggle gold from Zimbabwe to Zambia through Chirundu One Stop Border Post.
Detectives intercepted him at Makuti Lodges, Makuti, along the Harare-Chirundu Road while driving a Toyota Mark X with Zambian registration number CAH9141.
The detectives conducted a search of the vehicle, which led to the recovery of three bars of gold stashed under the car’s seatbelt winder.
Phiri was asked to produce a permit or licence that warranted possession of the gold, but he had none, leading to his arrest. He was issued with a Notice of Seizure number 0156424.
On the same day, Phiri was escorted to CID MFFU Harare for further processing, where the gold was weighed in his presence and confirmed to weigh three kilogrammes.
The gold was forfeited to the state after a successful application by Prosecutor Muza.
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