Zimbabwe February 2006 |
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| Seven officers nabbed in passport scam, (Chronicle, 2006-02-06):-Seven officials from the Registra General’s Office, accused of fraudulently issuing passports to nine people, have been arrested on charges of corruption. The seven; Gerald Makusha (36), Rose Mashava (25), Peter Madera (27), Brian Kaswaurere (22), Lydia Chiodze (22), Samuel Chiodze and Sylvia Makombe (25) appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ court last Friday for initial remand. They were not asked to plead to charges of contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act when they appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rebecca Takavadiyi, who dismissed their bail application. Ms Takavadiyi said the seven were likely to interfere with witnesses, evidence and investigations if released on bail. She also noted that if they were convicted, there was a high likelihood of custodial sentences and that had the potential to motivate them to abscond. Ms Takavadiyi added that it was in the interest of justice that the State be given enough time to conclude its investigations without interference from the seven. In their bail application made by lawyer Mr Eriam Musendekwa of Sawyer and Mkushi, the officials argued that they were of fixed abode and would not abscond. Mr Musendekwa also said the presumption of innocence should work in his clients’ favour as they were still innocent before the law. However, Mr Ndabezihle Moyo, for the State, said the seven faced a very serious charge of corruption and were likely to receive custodial sentences. He said some of the passports they allegedly issued were still to be recovered and if released on bail, the seven would interfere with efforts to recover the passports. The seven were remanded in custody to 17 February. Charges against the seven arose last month when they allegedly connived and illegally issued passports to nine people. The State alleges that they were paid $100 000 for each passport instead of the prescribed $1,5 million, prejudicing the RG’s Office of $12,5 million. The offence came to light when the Principal Processing Officer at the RG’s Office, Ms Jemina Mudyiwa, queried the unusual interest displayed by the seven in the processing of the passports in question. Mudyiwa then investigated the matter leading to their arrest. It is alleged that investigations revealed that the passports’ receipt and batch numbers were at variance with those in use at the RegistrarGeneral’s Office. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |