mbulelo smpofu
Lesley Chikudo , Sunday News Reporter
TWO scrap metal dealers who were found with 289 kilogrammes of copper scrap worth about US$6 000 were discharged at the close of the State case on Thursday due to lack of evidence linking them to the alleged offence.
Claudius Rusere (43) from Hwange and Zvikomborero Nyabonde (46) from Victoria Falls were in February accused of illegal possession of copper cables.
Western Commonage regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze ruled that there were inconsistencies in the testimony of the witnesses.
“After hearing the testimonies by the witnesses, the court noted that there is a lack of evidence linking the accused to illegal possession of copper cables.
“Accordingly, they are found not guilty and acquitted,” she ruled.
Prosecuting, Mr Milton Moyo said on February 10 at around 4am, police detectives were on patrol when they found the duo parked outside Dairibord Zimbabwe premises in the Kelvin West industrial area in Bulawayo.
The detectives identified themselves and requested to search their vehicle as well as check the luggage in the truck.
“On searching the car, the detectives recovered nine bags loaded with scrap copper concealed under a concrete mixer, which was part of the scrap materials loaded in the loading box,” said Mr Moyo.
On being quizzed, Rusere and Nyabonde failed to produce a permit authorising them to possess or deal in copper, leading to their arrest and subsequent seizure of the scrap copper and car.
The value of the recovered copper is US$5 960.
Online Reporter