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Court Reporter
Former Ministry of Mines and Mining Development senior official Engineer Kunofiwa Hofisi, who made headlines on allegations of defrauding a Harare couple of $95 100 in a botched mining deal, was recently set free after the prosecution found no incriminating evidence against him.
The Prosecutor General, through chief law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura, declined prosecution in the fraud case and directed the release of Eng Hofisi’s Mercedes Benz E320 that was being held as an exhibit by the police.
Eng Hofisi was a mining inspector in Masvingo Province and he was being accused of conniving with his colleague Wine Maguta and two women, Jane Hove (52) and Ntombizodwa Magura (41), to defraud the couple.
It was the State’s case that sometime in October last year, the couple decided to venture into mining using their investment vehicle Seabridge Gold Investments.
Hove, who was their church mate, the State alleged, got information of their intentions and introduced them to Eng Hofisi.
Eng Hofisi told the couple that he was selling special grants SG2757 and SG2777 with gold ore in Zvishavane worth $90 000 on Hove’s behalf.
It was alleged that Eng Hofisi arranged for them to meet Magura who confirmed that the grants were indeed available.
The couple was later taken to the site of claims.
The couple deposited $90 000 into Eng Hofisi’s bank account in November 2010, but no grants were received.
On May 29 2011, the special grants had not been received from the four, resulting in the complainant’s lawyers seeking refund.
A police report was made leading to the suspects’ arrest.
But prosecutors said there was no evidence linking Eng Hofisi to the offence, resulting in his acquittal.
Online Reporter