Moffat Mungazi
Court Reporter
PROMINENT Mutare pharmacist, Douglas Nzombe Chiutsi (39), who hogged the limelight last year for a US$258 708 fraud case, and was incarcerated for 10 days, before being released on bail is back in jail.
Chiutsi was initially denied bail by Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe in June 2024 on the grounds that he was likely to interfere with witnesses as investigations were still ongoing as the case is extremely complex.
Chiutsi is accused of fleecing Healthwell Pharmacy (Pvt) Ltd t/a Clique Pharmacy of US$258 708 in an alleged well-orchestrated fraud scam.
Chiutsi who has since left Clique Pharmacy, and is running Alleviate Pharmacy, a stone’s throw away from Clique Pharmacy was released following the intervention of lawyers who were pushing for the amicable settlement of the matter before he made a summersault on the agreed course of action.
He has since been sued in the High Court for the recovery of the stolen funds which he agreed to pay back upon his release from remand prison last year. Chiutsi is alleged to have interfered with evidence in his fraud case which is due to go for trial on February 17 in violation of his bail conditions.
It is alleged that on February 1, Chiutsi stormed into Clique Pharmacy where a computer server containing evidence in his fraud case was stored under the escort of police detectives from Commercial Crimes Division, Northern Region led by Detective Constable Toronga, and had unlimited access to the server for about 20 minutes before abruptly leaving the pharmacy.
He was arrested, and brought before Mutare magistrate, Ms Perseverance Makala last Friday for an inquiry into breach of bail conditions.
Ms Joyce Tinarwo was representing the State, while Chiutsi who was a self-actor, was asked if he wanted the services of a lawyer, but declined the right.
He did not deny entering Clique Pharmacy, and entering the server.
In his argument, Chiutsi stated that he entered a new pharmacy different from the old Clique Pharmacy because the new pharmacy is now run by Tirman Investments (Pvt) Ltd, a different entity.
However, the evidence placed before the court indicated that Chiutsi actually entered the server for Healthwell Pharmacy (Pvt) Ltd, t/a Clique Pharmacy.
After a full hearing, the court found out that by entering the server, Chiutsi violated his bail conditions.
His bail was revoked before being whisked away by prison officials to Mutare Remand Prison.
Online Reporter