adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A Freighload Logistics manager was yesterday taken to court by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) for under declaring goods by $12,341.
Robert Gava appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa and pleaded guilty to the charge. Magistrate Msipa warned and cautioned Gava and ordered Zimra to produce receipts before the matter could be concluded.
The state case led by Caroline Matanga is that Gava was employed by Bulk Star where he was a clearing agent of Tashoille Trading Private Limited, a registered fuel importer.
Sometime in July, Tashoille Trading imported 100,000 litres of diesel at a cost of $84,800 from Galana Petroleum Limited of Mozambique.
The company engaged Gava as its clearing agent to pay Zimra duty for the diesel at a time when he had also been employed at Freighload Logistics but did not disclose that to the former.
The 100,000 litres of diesel were in two National Railways of Zimbabwe tankers with one having 58,061 litres with a bill entry of number C952 and another having 40,840 litres with bill entry number C953.
Gava altered the diesel papers from 58,061 litres to read 27,520 litres in one tanker and the other one was altered from 40,840 litres to 30, 000 litres.
As a result, Zimra changed $16,738 for duty instead of $29,120 for the 100,000 litres of diesel.
The matter came to light when Zimra officials on routine checks discovered that Tashoille had under declared its products, and a report was made to the police.
Investigations revealed that Gava was paid the full amount, $29,120 by Tashoille to pay Zimra, but altered the bill of entries and only paid $16,738 in duty.
Online Reporter