Man nabbed for defrauding Zimra

Zvikomborero Parafini

A HARARE man yesterday appeared in court for allegedly defrauding the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) by smuggling cars into the country without paying duty.

Benson Mudangandi appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi, who released him on $50 000 bail.

Mudangandi’s accomplices Viola Mudangandi and Elias Njale are still at large.

The court heard that on August 31, 2019, Viola brought a Toyota Land Cruiser from South Africa on a temporary import permit (TIP). The permit was expiring after 30 days.

It is the State’s case that Viola, Benson and Njale connived and fraudulently registered the car in the Central Vehicle Registry system, using particulars, belonging to Lawrence Remberia Kimoti.

They were issued with a new vehicle registration book and number plates.

They also created a fake agreement of sale between themselves and Kimoti.

Zimra claimed it lost US$35 000 in import duty and taxes due to the fraud.

On the second count, Benson is being charged together with Njale for fraud.

The court heard that on June 18 last year, Lloyd Mukundi brought a Volkswagen Golf from South Africa on a TIP.

It’s the State’s case that before the expiry of the TIP, Mukundi decided to permanently import the vehicle into Zimbabwe.

 However, an emergency arose and he returned to South Africa before he started the process of clearing the vehicle for import duty and taxes.

 Mukundi asked his elder brother Kudakwashe Mukundi to do it on his behalf.

 While Kudakwashe was trying to initiate the process of clearing the vehicle, he was approached by a friend, Benson, who advised him that Njale was a clearing agent,

Benson introduced Kudakwashe to Njale who demanded US$3 500 to clear the vehicle.

Kudakwashe handed over the vehicle’s documents, together with US$2 000 cash to Njale on the same day, to initiate the clearing process.

The balance of US$1 500 was later paid in three instalments of US$500 each.

It is alleged that Njale took time to clear the vehicle and Kudakwashe started demanding the clearing documents.

However, Njale failed to avail them.

Njale later issued fake temporary number plates.

Both Njale and Benson became evasive and gave Kudakwashe a fake registration book, which was in someone else’s name, leading to their arrest.