News / Regional
Beitbridge Zimra officials face criminal abuse of office charge
08 Apr 2015 at 06:27hrs | Views
TWO Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officers stationed at Beitbridge border post have been charged with criminal abuse of office after they allegedly detained a truckload of liquor that had been legally cleared.
Obert Tafadzwa Charamba, 35, a loss control officer popularly known as Charamba by cross-border traders and Stephen Masimuke, 50, a supervisor, are accused of detaining a truck belonging to Turkey Trading of Bulawayo between December, 23, last year and January, 14, this year.
Through their lawyer Reason Mutimba of Masawi and Partners, the duo denied the charge when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Gloria Takundwa.
They were each granted $200 bail pending trial, but their temporary freedom was short-lived after the State led by Jabulani Mberesi invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
The law authorises the further detention of people who would have been granted bail.
Charamba and Masimuke were then remanded in custody to April, 14.
Allegations are that on December, 23, last year, Turkey Trading Pvt (Ltd) of Bulawayo imported a consignment of liquor from South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post.
The company then enlisted the services of ASB Freight as their clearing agent to facilitate the importation of the liquor and this was done at Zimra Beitbridge under bill of entry number C93285.
The truck was then released by other Zimra officials to leave the border but Charamba and Masimuke later intercepted it.
They referred it to the container depot for further physical examination which was done on the following day.
No anomaly was detected, but the two insisted on its detention without giving any reasons.
The truck and the cargo remained lodged at the depot until January, 14, prompting the owners to report the matter to the police.
They also lodged an application in the High Court which ordered the consignment's unconditional release.
Investigations established that Charamba and Masimuke did not issue any legal documents (Notice of seizure and duty schedule) as proof that the truck and the cargo were being detained legally at the container depot.
Under normal customs procedures, an importer is issued with a notice of seizure accompanied by a duty schedule in cases where they will have smuggled or underpaid excise or customs duty.
Further investigations revealed that the said consignment was never entered into the Zimra books and the two were subsequently arrested.
Obert Tafadzwa Charamba, 35, a loss control officer popularly known as Charamba by cross-border traders and Stephen Masimuke, 50, a supervisor, are accused of detaining a truck belonging to Turkey Trading of Bulawayo between December, 23, last year and January, 14, this year.
Through their lawyer Reason Mutimba of Masawi and Partners, the duo denied the charge when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Gloria Takundwa.
They were each granted $200 bail pending trial, but their temporary freedom was short-lived after the State led by Jabulani Mberesi invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
The law authorises the further detention of people who would have been granted bail.
Charamba and Masimuke were then remanded in custody to April, 14.
Allegations are that on December, 23, last year, Turkey Trading Pvt (Ltd) of Bulawayo imported a consignment of liquor from South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post.
The company then enlisted the services of ASB Freight as their clearing agent to facilitate the importation of the liquor and this was done at Zimra Beitbridge under bill of entry number C93285.
They referred it to the container depot for further physical examination which was done on the following day.
No anomaly was detected, but the two insisted on its detention without giving any reasons.
The truck and the cargo remained lodged at the depot until January, 14, prompting the owners to report the matter to the police.
They also lodged an application in the High Court which ordered the consignment's unconditional release.
Investigations established that Charamba and Masimuke did not issue any legal documents (Notice of seizure and duty schedule) as proof that the truck and the cargo were being detained legally at the container depot.
Under normal customs procedures, an importer is issued with a notice of seizure accompanied by a duty schedule in cases where they will have smuggled or underpaid excise or customs duty.
Further investigations revealed that the said consignment was never entered into the Zimra books and the two were subsequently arrested.
Source - chronicle
