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Mnangagwa's Covid-19 fraud accused ally could get off scot-free
29 Sep 2020 at 18:30hrs | Views
DRAX International country representative Delish Nguwaya who is facing US$20 million fraud charges involving the acquisition of Covid-19 medicines will be removed from remand if the State does not give him a trial date on October 23.
Nguwaya is accused of misrepresenting to the government that Drax was into manufacturing of drugs and has been on bail since his arrest in June.
Harare regional magistrate Esthere Chivasa yesterday dismissed Nguwaya's application for refusal of further remand, but told the State to urgently try the accused.
Nguwaya, through his lawyers, last Friday challenged the State to put him on trial or free him.
"The State applied for a one-month postponement to allow the investigating officer to complete investigations which the magistrate said was reasonable, but should not be taken for granted.
"The State cannot have its cake and eat it too. There is no trial date, but they do not want him to be removed from remand.
"The State should be given an opportunity to complete investigations, but if they can't provide a trial date on the next appearance, the accused will be removed from remand," Chivasa said.
Nguwaya said allegations that he swindled the State have tarnished President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his wife Auxillia and the first family on social media and has demanded a chance for him to clear the mess. He argued that only a trial would clear the names of the first family and with the State failing to provide a trial date, they should free him and withdraw the charges.
Nguwaya said when the matter started, the State had so much zeal to prosecute, but "they were surprised why the State was developing jelly legs".
Nguwaya is accused of misrepresenting to the government that Drax was into manufacturing of drugs and has been on bail since his arrest in June.
Harare regional magistrate Esthere Chivasa yesterday dismissed Nguwaya's application for refusal of further remand, but told the State to urgently try the accused.
Nguwaya, through his lawyers, last Friday challenged the State to put him on trial or free him.
"The State applied for a one-month postponement to allow the investigating officer to complete investigations which the magistrate said was reasonable, but should not be taken for granted.
"The State cannot have its cake and eat it too. There is no trial date, but they do not want him to be removed from remand.
"The State should be given an opportunity to complete investigations, but if they can't provide a trial date on the next appearance, the accused will be removed from remand," Chivasa said.
Nguwaya said allegations that he swindled the State have tarnished President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his wife Auxillia and the first family on social media and has demanded a chance for him to clear the mess. He argued that only a trial would clear the names of the first family and with the State failing to provide a trial date, they should free him and withdraw the charges.
Nguwaya said when the matter started, the State had so much zeal to prosecute, but "they were surprised why the State was developing jelly legs".
Source - dailynews
