Peter Matika [email protected]
TWO Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officers stationed at Plumtree Border Post appeared in court yesterday facing charges of criminal abuse of duty after allegedly clearing two luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Urus valued at more than US$818 000, without physically inspecting them, prejudicing the tax collector of more than US$549 000 in potential customs revenue.
Edwin Mhondiwa Chabuda (43) and Upenyu Chaurura (51) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Mark Dzira facing separate counts of criminal abuse of duty as public officers, as defined in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The two were remanded in custody until today (Wednesday), when the court is expected to deliver its ruling on their bail applications.
The State alleges that the two revenue officers abused their positions by falsely recording in the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) that the vehicles had exited the country without conducting mandatory physical examinations to establish their presence at the border.
Chabuda is accused of facilitating the clearance of a foreign-registered Lamborghini Urus, registration number TL 00 GP, valued at US$818 689,69 inclusive of duty.
The court heard that on July 12 this year, at Plumtree Border Post, Chabuda, whose responsibilities include physically examining vehicles before clearing them in the ASYCUDA system, allegedly processed the vehicle as having exited the country without verifying its presence.
The alleged offence was committed with the intention of conferring an illegal benefit on Tafadzwa Pedzisai, who is still at large, while prejudicing ZIMRA through the loss of customs duty amounting to US$469 472,75.
In a separate count, Chaurura is accused of facilitating the clearance of a Mercedes-Benz GLE valued at US$162 360,51 inclusive of duty.
It is alleged that on October 2 this year, he knowingly acquitted the vehicle, registration number NB76MMGP, in the ASYCUDA system as confirmation that it had exited the country, without conducting the required physical examination.
Mr Moyo told the court that Chaurura’s actions were intended to confer an undue benefit on Pedzisai, prejudicing ZIMRA of customs duty amounting to US$79 818,31.
The combined alleged revenue prejudice amounts to US$549 291,06.
The two officers were represented by Mr Simbarashe Innocent Madzivire of Mashayamombe Co and Attorneys.
