adminyesterday appeared in court facing theft and fraud charges.
Jeremy Sanford (57), a South African, was not formally charged when he appeared before provincial magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini who remanded him out of custody to December 15 on US$1 500.
Sanford who was represented by Mr Harrison Nkomo of Mtetwa and Nyambirayi was also ordered to surrender title deeds of his company Tunsgate Properties (Pvt) Ltd and of a property in Northwood.
He was also ordered to surrender his British passport to the clerk of court and his South African one to the Anti Corruption Commission who are investigating the matter.
Mr Nkomo notified the court that he would apply for refusal of further remand and also submit complainants against the Anti Corruption Commission on December 15.
Sanford who was wearing a blue trousers, a matching jacket and tennis shoes insulted photographers asking them “how much are they (your employers) going to give you US$5, US$10 or they are going to buy you a coke”.
After the court session he accused journalists of being sent by the complainant to write his story after being given US$5 by the complainant.
Prosecutor Mr David Magwegwe said Sanford who did not have a link with the complainant Dr Vivek Solanki was hired by African Medical Investments (Pvt) Ltd to work with a former director Marvis Mushonga at Autoband Investments operating as Trauma Centre.
During the period from August to September last year, Sanford with his alleged accomplices wrote a fraudulent letter purporting that Dr Solanki’s manager and sole signatory, Zarina Dudhia had resigned from the company and that there was a board resolution to that effect.
Using the letter, they made an application to Stanbic Bank for a change of signatories, which was granted.
They allegedly withdrew US$300 000 from the account. Using the same method they withdrew another US$198 000 from the company’s ZB account.
They further withdrew US$501 000 from Metropolitan Bank.
While Dudhia was away they allegedly stole hospital equipment, furniture, three ambulances, five vehicles, 26 computers all valued at US$5 million and belonging to Autoband.
The State says they stole the property while Dr Solanki was out of the country after they threatened to kill him and his family.
Online Reporter