TOP EXECUTIVE’S US$2 MILLION FRAUD TRIAL STARTS

Zvikomborero Parafini

CENTENARY Tobacco Company secretary, Hugh Tinashe Sibanda, is expected in the High Court today for trial commencement in a case he is being accused of embezzling US$2 million.

Sibanda, who is the director and company secretary, is appearing on his behalf and on behalf of the company in the trial which will run from today until Friday.

The complainant is CMED (Pvt) Ltd, represented by Billy Maswaure, who is its Fuels Manager.

The State is alleging that in October 2022, Sibanda approached CMED Head Office intending to import duty-free diesel for agricultural purposes on behalf of Centenary Tobacco Company.

Sibanda engaged Maswaure, in the presence of Belinda Nyangoni, the CMED Logistics and Distribution Officer.

Sibanda was advised that a letter of authorisation from the Ministry of Agriculture and a rebate letter from ZIMEA were required to facilitate the duty-free importation.

The project for which the fuel was needed was supposed to be of national status.

A few days later, Sibanda allegedly returned and stated that his company’s project was of national status and he then tendered a letter from the Ministry of Agriculture and a rebate letter from ZIMRA.

CMED acted upon the documents presented to it by initiating the process of importing diesel for Centenary Tobacco.

It is further alleged that between October 2022 and January 2023, CMED imported a total of 4 470 000 litres of duty-free fuel through National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) for Sibanda and his company.

Sibanda and his company collected the fuel time and again. In January last year, ZIMRA noted that the fuel, which was imported by Sibanda through CMED under the duty-free provision, was improper.

The documents that Sibanda had tendered to CMED, on behalf of Centenary Tobacco, were forged.

As a result of Sibanda’s actions, ZIMRA wrote to the CMED on April 4 last year demanding payment amounting to US$2 805 900 being duty on fuel imported by CMED on behalf of Sibanda and his company. The State has a line-up of witnesses who include Dr John Bhasera, who was the Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development at the time.