65 alleged forex dealers remain in custody

Michael Mashiri

ZIM NOW CORRESPONDENT

The 65 alleged moneychangers, who were raided recently while working around Harare, will remain in custody.

This is because the State needs to convene investigating officers in the matter to court.

This comes as the State wants to be enabled to have clarity on the circumstances of their arrest.

The suspects appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with contravening the Exchange Control Act.

Bail rulings are expected next week until May 3.

The State through prosecutors, Thomas Chanakira, Takudzwa Jambawu and Lancelot Mutsokoti opposed to the giving of the accused bail, citing they were facing a serious offence.

Last Friday, two of the accused were soliciting US dollars at Chisipite Shopping Centre and were spotted by a team of detectives who wer surveillance patrol.

The detectives approached the two and posed as clients.

Twins Tapiwa Nyamadzawo and Justice Nyamadzawo, 24, negotiated with the detectives to pay ZiG15 for a US dollar with the detectives offering US$10 for sale.

The suspected moneychangers would pay the ZiG150 into EcoCash. Tapiwa then made a transaction and transferred ZiG150 into an account furnished to him by the detectives and both accused were arrested.

Searches were carried out on the accused persons, leading to the recovery of a Tecno cellphone dual SIM, CBZ debit card, NMB debit card and US$465 in cash from Tapiwa.

From Justice, police recovered an Omari debit card, an NMB point of sale machine, a CABS debit card, and US$124 cash, all supporting evidence that the pair were illegally dealing in foreign currency.