Mutodi arrested

From Abel Zhakata in Mutare
Harare businessman-cum-musician, Energy Mutodi, spent Wednesday night in remand prison after he was arrested by the police in Mutare for failing to attend court over a $2million fraud charges he is facing in the eastern border city.

Mutodi is the owner of the National Housing Development Trust that is facing allegations of defrauding more than 1200 home seekers in the Gimboki South housing project.

He was supposed to attend court on Wednesday morning for routine remand but he arrived late in the afternoon well after the court had adjourned and a warrant of arrest had been issued against him.

Mutodi was then arrested at the Clerk of Court offices when he wanted to inquire about the case.
However, he walked out a free man yesterday afternoon after his lawyer, Mr Farai Matinhure of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners, successfully applied before Mrs Anniah Ndiraya that the default judgment be set aside.

He told the court that his client arrived late for court because he had a tyre puncture in Macheke on his way from Harare to Mutare.
“He arrived around 1pm after a warrant of arrest had been issued against him. Out of mischief, police officers arrested him at the Clerk of Court office when he wanted the record to be withdrawn.My client has been religiously attending court and he has never been in default,” he said.

Mrs Ndiraya accepted the application and told Mutodi that his bail still stands.
The case goes for trial on April 8.

Mr Nelson Makunyire is prosecuting.