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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A Zimbabwean woman who was employed as a housemaid and teamed up with her two brothers to steal R1,5 million, hundreds of Euros and pounds from her employer was yesterday granted $100 bail, the same as her accomplices.
Their joy was short-lived, however, as the State invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedures and Evidence Act to be allowed to detain the suspects for seven days while it considers an appeal against the magistrate’s ruling.
Constance Mujeyi (28) allegedly hatched a plan to steal from Veronica Wilkins and roped in her cousins, Watson Laiton (27) and Mathew Laiton (23), who helped her flee to Zimbabwe.
They reportedly built a house and bought a car (Toyota Mark 11) before concealing the balance.
The trio appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing two counts of theft and money laundering.
Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa had opposed bail arguing the State had a strong case against the trio as they had led police to the recovery of R539 300, 180 pounds and 765 Euros they had concealed.
He further told the court that they were yet to ascertain the exact amount of Euros and pounds which Mujeyi stole.
The trio, through their lawyer Mr Norman Mugiya, argued they had been working in South Africa for 10 years and that the money confiscated by the police was their savings.
They denied stealing from Mujeyi’s employer.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Mr Mahwe granted the trio $100 bail each.
Mr Mutizirwa then invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
According to the State, on May 11 Mujeyi stole the money from Wilkins’ bedroom and handed it over to Watson and Mathew, who were also working in South Africa.
The trio is alleged to have smuggled the money into the country.
They allegedly used part of the money to buy a motor vehicle and build a house in Zengeza 5.
They were arrested following a tip-off.
It is the State’s case that the trio assisted the police in recovering part of the money.
The vehicle was confiscated by police as an exhibit.
Meanwhile, three Zimbabwean men allegedly stole a car, a Mercedes Benz valued at $15 000, from South Africa and smuggled it into the country.
Hamza Maganyidzo (43), Lawrence Madziro (27) and Liberty Svosve (28) appeared before the same magistrate charged with theft of a motor vehicle.
The vehicle belongs to a South African car rental company Avis Rent-a-Car.
The company had rented it to one Maxson Ntaboeleng who parked it at his house.
It is alleged the trio hatched a plan to steal the motor vehicle from the garage with the help of an accomplice still at large.
They allegedly used a duplicate key to start the vehicle and drive away.
They smuggled it into the country.
The anti-theft tracking device gave them away after it reflected that the vehicle was now in Zimbabwe.
Police were alerted leading to the arrest of the trio.
Maganyidzo was advised to apply for bail at the High Court while Madziro and Svosve were granted $100 bail each.
Online Reporter