No joy for businessman

Paidamoyo Bore

BUSINESSMAN Malvern Chimutashu will remain in detention after the High Court dismissed his bail application stating he was a high risk in terms of absconding.

High Court judge, Justice Esther Muremba, said Chimutashu had shown no respect for the rule of law and administration of justice.

This stemmed from the State’s submissions that the businessman had been evasive in other cases he is facing in court.

She said Chimutashu had withheld some information, which the court wanted to use, in assessing whether he was a proper candidate for bail.

“The applicant said that he is a businessman without even disclosing to the court the business he is into,” said Justice Muremba.

Chimutashu did not tell the court whether he owned any valuable assets and if he had a passport.

The State also proved that Chimutashu has two pending fraud cases at the Magistrates’ Court, and has 10 outstanding warrants of arrest issued against him since 2020.

However, through his lawyer, Chimutashu refuted allegations of motor vehicle theft, which landed him in court on June 6.

According to the State, one Tawanda Madzivanzira purchased a Mercedes Benz from Chimutashu and took it to his friend, who owns a car sale.

It is alleged that in February, Chimutashu contacted Madzivanzira and asked whether he had sold the vehicle.

He was told that it was still on the market.

Chimutashu allegedly told Madzivanzira that he had secured a buyer.

He arranged to see the car with two men, claiming to be interested in buying it, and took the vehicle on a test drive but never returned.

He told the court that he did not steal the vehicle since he was the rightful owner.

Chimutashu said he did not sell the vehicle to Madzivanzira, but gave him the car as collateral for a loan he took from him.