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Zvikomborero Parafini
THREE of the individuals suspected of being part of a cartel which allegedly smuggled cars into the country and stole registration plates from the Office of the President and Cabinet, is back in court today.
Brian Matongo (41), Tinashe Kanda (41) and Elvis Jieman (38) were remanded to today after prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti applied for a postponement seeking more time for the police to wrap up investigations.
Allegations are that sometime in 2018, the trio allegedly connived with officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), Central Vehicle Registration (CVR) as well as The Central Intelligence Office, and fraudulently registered smuggled different vehicles.
On December 12, 2018, Matongo, acting in connivance with Wisdom Ndebele, who is still at large, allegedly smuggled a Toyota Fortuner, from South Africa into Zimbabwe.
In a bid to benefit from ZIMRA, ZINARA and CVR exemptions of tax, licences and toll fees, the two connived with Kanda, who then supplied vehicle registration book and number plate AFC 0405, which belongs to The Office of the President and Cabinet.
Subsequently, Jieman evaded payment of tax, vehicle licences fees as well as toll fees nationwide for a period extending from December 2018 to August 2023.
The offence came to light when The Office of the President and Cabinet witnessed an upsurge in cars with exempted registration plates on the market.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter