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woman of US$1 million with a trial date before considering releasing their passports.
Casimjee Bilal (28), Henry Radebe (57), Samuel Risimati Baloyi (60) and Sydney Masito Sekgobela are appearing before Harare magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera who deferred the matter to August 29 this year.
Chief law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura had made an application for a postponement of the matter pending the extradition of the alleged mastermind of the fraud Ping Sung Hsieh.
Their lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa then asked the court to permit them to be given their passports and visit their families in South Africa while awaiting their trial.
In his ruling Mr Kubonera said: “After considering submissions of both counsels the court hereby rules that the application for postponement of matter to August 29 this year is hereby granted.
“However, the State must note that if the accused are not furnished with a trial date, the court will consider releasing accused persons’ passports.”
The State alleges that Bilal, Radebe, Baloyi and Masito connived with Ping to swindle Mrs Olga Bungu of US$1 million.
They pretended to import South African registered trucks sometime in 2007.
Ping was allegedly supposed to supply six Scania trucks and sixdrop side trailers that included driver-training.
Ping allegedly advised the complainant that the trucks would be delivered upon payment and on August 22, 2007 Mrs Bungu through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe deposited US$1 million into Chantra Trading’s company account with Standard Bank, South Africa.
However, the State says, the trucks were not delivered.
On July 24 last year, Ping was arrested in South Africa.
On February 18 this year, it is alleged, Ping hired the four drivers to bring into Zimbabwe Iveco trucks registered under another of his companies, Fast Truck Haulage CC.
They had temporary import permits that expired on March 4 and for unknown reasons were left at the Grace Mugabe Orphanage Home on February 19 at around 9pm.
Online Reporter