Zim Now Writer
Three men accused of defrauding a local businessman of US$11,000 in a disputed offshore payment deal have been released from remand by the Harare Provincial Magistrate Court. The ruling, delivered by Magistrate Gore, stresses the principle of presumption of innocence, as the State has yet to present sufficient evidence to justify the continuation of the case.
The accused—Albert Savanhu (55), Alen Marimbe (56), and Mthokozisi Mpofu (31)—faced allegations of fraud related to a transaction involving Matthew Manyangadze, the Managing Director of Redmark Service Private Limited, trading as StemMagnetics. The charges arose from a January 2022 incident in which Marimbe, a self-employed banking consultant and acquaintance of Manyangadze, purportedly offered to facilitate an offshore payment to a Dubai-based supplier, Computrone Estore FZE Saif Zone.
Manyangadze transferred US$11,000 to the trio, believing the funds would be sent to his supplier. However, when the supplier reported that no payment had been received, Manyangadze confronted the accused. Mpofu allegedly acknowledged receiving the funds and promised repayment if the transaction did not succeed. Despite a written agreement, the funds were never recovered, leading Manyangadze to file a police report.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police Cyber Laboratory conducted an investigation, retrieving WhatsApp messages, proof of payment documents, and other digital evidence. Despite this, Magistrate Gore determined that the State had not provided a compelling case for prosecution, emphasizing that the accused would need to be summoned if the State decides to pursue the matter further.
Throughout the proceedings, Savanhu maintained his innocence, asserting that the allegations were unfounded and aimed at damaging his reputation within the business community. The court's decision to remove the trio from remand reflects the lack of substantial evidence presented by the State.
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