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Mathew Masinge
PROSECUTOR-General, Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, has successfully applied for the civil forfeiture of former NMB Bank Zimbabwe assistant finance manager Nyasha Dumbu’s US$95 000 Arlington property on allegations of fraud and money laundering.
The property, measuring approximately 2,4 hectares, was listed as tainted after it was linked to a $23 425 701 fraud at the bank sometime in 2021.
Dumbu was accused of conniving with Arthur Munhuuripi, an accounts clerk at the bank, to create the fraudulent payment instructions to Vertcord Investments and Simrac Enterprise.
He went on to approve the payments and the money was paid between January and April 2021, when the $23 425 701 was equivalent to US$280 046.
Dumbu was cited together with his wife, Heather, who argued that she acquired the same property for US$95 000 through a loan facility.
She claimed the property was ceded in her name.
However, Justice Benjamin Chikowero found out that Heather’s explanation was unacceptable, a bare averment that was not backed by any evidence.
Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo proved to Justice Chikovero that the property was funded by proceeds stolen from the bank.
“Ultimately, I have found that the property itself is proceeds of conduct constituting or associated with the serious offence of theft. Any other conclusion is not possible on the evidence.
“This a case where the applicant’s decision not to apply for an unexplained wealth order has had no repercussions on the outcome of the application for the order for civil forfeiture of the tainted property,” ruled the judge.
Justice Chikowero ordered for the property to be forfeited to the State.
He ordered that “undivided 18668 percent share number L8 in a certain piece of land situate in the district of Salisbury called stand number 2485 Arlington Estate measuring 2.4 hectares held under Deed of Transfer Registered Number 3113/2017 dated 10 August 2017 is tainted property and is forfeited to the State.”
Meanwhile, the High Court has also ordered the same action on Samuel and Ratidzai Chiodze, who were accused of money laundering.
The two were found in possession of $1 436 501 stashed in their Honda Airwave sometime in 2021.
The cash was equivalent to US$16 386 and the vehicle has also been forfeited to the State.
Online Reporter