adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A 45-year-old trucker, who was arrested at Beitbridge Border Post last week while smuggling 5 000 IBR roofing sheets, two wardrobes and 18 salon chairs worth R447 700, has appeared in court. Mudyiwa Nihape of Sunningdale 2, Harare, was on his way from South Africa.
If the smuggling had been successful, the State could have lost $63 419, 94 in excise duty.
Nihape is represented by Mr Patrick Tererai of Tererai Legal Practice.
He was not asked to plead to contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act when he appeared before Mr Godswill Mavenge on Friday last week.
He was remanded to today (May 30), on $300 bail pending trial. Charges are that on May 22, Nihape arrived at Beitbridge Border Post driving a South African registered truck towing a trailer, carrying roofing material and saloon chairs and two wardrobes.
He was en route to Harare.
The State further alleges that while at the border working with a customs clearing company, the man attempted to smuggle the said goods using a fraudulently acquired customs bill of entry number ZWBB C 28587 of 22/05/2019. According to the bill of entry, the goods were being imported by Masarawa T/A Super Builders and was being cleared by Aminaj Shipping P/L.
The court further heard that Mudyiwa was arrested when he was about to leave the border when he tendered to authorities documents with the said bill of entry number, which was verified and was non-existent in Zimra’s Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA plus).
Online Reporter