Anti-Corruption boss in court for fraud

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission chief executive Ngonidzashe Gumbo allegedly bought offices to be used by the commission in Mt Pleasant using Government funds, but registered the property in the name of a company he jointly owned with four of his subbordinates.

Gumbo allegedly requested US$1 680 000 to purchase the offices at 872 Betterment Close in Mt Pleasant when in actual fact the cost was US$1,2 million.

He did not declare the balance of US$435 000 after purchasing the property.

Gumbo yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with defrauding the commission and actual prejudice was pegged at US$435 000.

The total amount received by Gumbo from the Government was US$1,7 million.

The property Gumbo bought was registered under a private company in which himself and the commission's executive management - Sukai Tongogara, Edwin Mubataripi, Christopher Chisango and Gibson Mangwiro - were directors.

Gumbo was not asked to plead to fraud charges when he was hauled before magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei who remanded him in custody to Monday for bail ruling.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza appeared for the State, while Advocate Fadzai Mahere represented Gumbo.

Adv Mahere mounted a bail application in which Gumbo offered to pay US$2 000 bail and to surrender title deeds to his Mandara house.

Gumbo even proposed that he be placed under house arrest and report daily to the police.

Adv Mahere argued that her client was a proper bail candidate and that he could not leave the country because his passport had just expired.

Proof of an application for renewal of the expired passport was produced in court.
But Mr Reza opposed the bail application, arguing that Gumbo was likely to flee because the charges he faced were very serious.

Although Gumbo's passport had expired, Mr Reza argued that the borders of Zimbabwe were porous and he could not be stopped from illegally sneaking out of the country.

Mr Reza submitted that Gumbo was likely to interfere with evidence because the custodian of the crucial documents was his subordinate who was out of the country.
He said Gumbo could access the subordinate's office.

A bid by Adv Mahere to have her client remanded back to the police station pending bail ruling on Monday hit a snag after Mr Ndirowei ruled that he should join others in remand prison.

Mr Reza alleged that in 2010, ZACC approached the Home Affairs Ministry seeking alternative accommodation after their former landlords were about to evict them.

The ministry instructed Gumbo to look for an alternative property and he identified 872 Betterment Close in Mt Pleasant that belonged to Diane Spalletah.

It is alleged that Gumbo went back to the ministry where he requested US$1 680 000 to buy the property and Government deposited US$1,7 million into a ZACC account.

Gumbo allegedly instructed Tongogara, Chisango, Mubataripi and Mangwiro to form a shelf company called Property Mortgage where they became directors with equal shares. A ZACC administration and human resources manager deposited the US$1 680 000 into a CBZ account for Perpetual Properties trust account.

It is believed that Gumbo's daughter was an administrator for Perpetual Properties and she was the one who did the transactions.

The property was bought for US$1,2 million, which was fully paid to the owner Diane Spalletah by Perpetual Properties.

Perpetual Real agents deducted their commission amounting to US$44 500, leaving a balance of US$435 500.

It is the State's contention that US$160 000 was used for the purchase of a property owned by Poptechnologies where Gumbo and Popatlal Samir are directors.

A person called Da Silva was given US$100 000, while Samir received US$95 000.
Gumbo allegedly allocated US$80 000 for "renovations".