News / National
2 company directors dupe Zimra of R10 million
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Two directors of Hilmax, Rugare Murwira and Patrick Musavaya, appeared before Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on Wednesday to face seven counts of fraud, allegedly defrauding the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) of R10,755,880. The pair is accused of forging bills of entry to facilitate fraudulent transactions and misrepresenting imports to acquire funds.
Represented by Nelson Mashizha of Mashizha, Mutukwa, and Sambo Business Attorneys, Murwira and Musavaya were granted bail of US$500 each. Magistrate Gofa also ordered them not to interfere with State witnesses. The case has been adjourned to March 14, 2025, for routine remand.
According to State prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, the alleged fraud occurred between January and April 2021 when Murwira and Musavaya applied for R1,870,073.35 through Stanbic Bank, claiming it was for stock purchases from Hydraulic Centre (Pvt) Ltd in South Africa. The payment was made to Hydraulic Centre through its First Rand Bank Ltd account.
The court heard that although the two directors misrepresented that they had imported goods from South Africa, investigations revealed they had forged a bill of entry and a release order to justify the funds' acquittal. Specifically, the forged documents included Bill of Entry C26786 from Beitbridge Custom House, which was originally assigned to Breastplate Services (Pvt) Ltd for a tyre polish purchase, but was backdated to March 16, 2021, by Murwira and Musavaya.
In another instance, they allegedly forged a bill of entry, number C39444, backdating it to June 10, 2021, for an importation related to Shonhai Surprise (Pvt) Ltd, a company that had purchased motor vehicle accessories. However, no such imports had taken place, despite the release of funds.
The fraudulent activities continued with another application in August 2021 for R1,863,382.98, again claiming it was for stock purchases from Hydraulic Centre. However, once again, investigations revealed that no goods had been imported, and forged documents were used to acquit the funds.
In yet another instance, the directors allegedly forged Bill of Entry C54468, which had been assigned to PPC Zimbabwe Limited for gypsum imports, and later used Bill of Entry C36226, originally allocated to Vicrose Hardware (Pvt) Ltd for self-propelled work trucks, as part of their fraudulent actions.
The alleged acts of fraud have led to significant financial prejudice, as investigations show that no actual goods were imported despite the funds being released, and the forgery of documents was used to conceal the illicit activities.
Murwira and Musavaya are facing serious charges, and their case continues to unfold as authorities investigate the full extent of the fraud.
Represented by Nelson Mashizha of Mashizha, Mutukwa, and Sambo Business Attorneys, Murwira and Musavaya were granted bail of US$500 each. Magistrate Gofa also ordered them not to interfere with State witnesses. The case has been adjourned to March 14, 2025, for routine remand.
According to State prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, the alleged fraud occurred between January and April 2021 when Murwira and Musavaya applied for R1,870,073.35 through Stanbic Bank, claiming it was for stock purchases from Hydraulic Centre (Pvt) Ltd in South Africa. The payment was made to Hydraulic Centre through its First Rand Bank Ltd account.
The court heard that although the two directors misrepresented that they had imported goods from South Africa, investigations revealed they had forged a bill of entry and a release order to justify the funds' acquittal. Specifically, the forged documents included Bill of Entry C26786 from Beitbridge Custom House, which was originally assigned to Breastplate Services (Pvt) Ltd for a tyre polish purchase, but was backdated to March 16, 2021, by Murwira and Musavaya.
In another instance, they allegedly forged a bill of entry, number C39444, backdating it to June 10, 2021, for an importation related to Shonhai Surprise (Pvt) Ltd, a company that had purchased motor vehicle accessories. However, no such imports had taken place, despite the release of funds.
The fraudulent activities continued with another application in August 2021 for R1,863,382.98, again claiming it was for stock purchases from Hydraulic Centre. However, once again, investigations revealed that no goods had been imported, and forged documents were used to acquit the funds.
In yet another instance, the directors allegedly forged Bill of Entry C54468, which had been assigned to PPC Zimbabwe Limited for gypsum imports, and later used Bill of Entry C36226, originally allocated to Vicrose Hardware (Pvt) Ltd for self-propelled work trucks, as part of their fraudulent actions.
The alleged acts of fraud have led to significant financial prejudice, as investigations show that no actual goods were imported despite the funds being released, and the forgery of documents was used to conceal the illicit activities.
Murwira and Musavaya are facing serious charges, and their case continues to unfold as authorities investigate the full extent of the fraud.
Source - newsday
