News / National
Pastor jailed for 5 years over 9 grams of gold
13 Jul 2013 at 18:50hrs | Views
A Church pastor has been sent to jail for effective five years after he was arrested for possessing just nine grams of gold without a license.
Pastor James Mwarira (25) said he was a pastor with Jubilee Ministries and denied being Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa's church pastor.
It was proved that on 10 June, detective sergeant Munouya, detective constable Mavhene an detective constable Walaza from Harare Minerals Unit were on patrol when they received information that the man of God, Mwarira, was dealing in gold at F.M Jewellery.
The court heard that upon arrival at the shop situated at the corner of Kwame Nkhrumah and Kaguvi Street, the cops identified themselves as police officers to Pastor Mwarira. The police asked to search Mwarira and he agreed. Mavhene is said to have searched the man of the cloth while Munouya was watching.
The police officer allegedly recovered a suspected gold button wrapped in an old US$50 billion Zimbabwean bearer's cheque, which was stashed in a small zipped compartment in his wallet.
Mwarira was asked to produce his licence which authorised him to deal in gold but he failed, resulting in his arrest.
For possessing 9 grammes of gold without a license, Magistrate Don Ndirowei, slapped the 25-year-old pastor with an effective five year jail sentence.
State counsel Francesca Mukumbiri prosecuted.
Pastor James Mwarira (25) said he was a pastor with Jubilee Ministries and denied being Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa's church pastor.
It was proved that on 10 June, detective sergeant Munouya, detective constable Mavhene an detective constable Walaza from Harare Minerals Unit were on patrol when they received information that the man of God, Mwarira, was dealing in gold at F.M Jewellery.
The court heard that upon arrival at the shop situated at the corner of Kwame Nkhrumah and Kaguvi Street, the cops identified themselves as police officers to Pastor Mwarira. The police asked to search Mwarira and he agreed. Mavhene is said to have searched the man of the cloth while Munouya was watching.
The police officer allegedly recovered a suspected gold button wrapped in an old US$50 billion Zimbabwean bearer's cheque, which was stashed in a small zipped compartment in his wallet.
Mwarira was asked to produce his licence which authorised him to deal in gold but he failed, resulting in his arrest.
For possessing 9 grammes of gold without a license, Magistrate Don Ndirowei, slapped the 25-year-old pastor with an effective five year jail sentence.
State counsel Francesca Mukumbiri prosecuted.
Source - online
