News / National
Thieving maid will not be extradited to South Africa
08 Oct 2015 at 06:45hrs | Views
The State is no longer extraditing the Zimbabwean housemaid accused of stealing R1,5 million, hundreds of euros and British pounds from her employer in South Africa early this year.
Constance Mujeyi (28) allegedly swindled her former employer and fled back home with her loot. The woman early this month successfully challenged her extradition to South Africa at the High Court.
The magistrates' court had notified Mujeyi of her return to South Africa to face trial despite the fact that the prosecution had not made an application for extradition.
This impelled the defence led by Mr Norman Mugiya to file an urgent chamber application challenging the extradition on the grounds that it was improperly made.
However, the prosecution has abandoned the application and will now facilitate for the complainant to come to Harare to testify in the trial.
Reliable sources in the Prosecutor-General's Office confirmed the latest development.
"The prosecution is no longer making that application for extradition," sources said. "The latest development is that the complainant who is the key witness in the matter is now being required to come here to give evidence. He is coming."
Harare magistrate Francis Mapfumo in August notified Mujeyi, who is being charged along with her two brothers Watson (27) and Mathew Laiton (23), of their extradition to South Africa for trial.
The extradition was supposed to be carried out on August 28, but the High Court suspended the decision until a proper application was made.
The move to extradite the trio came following a request by South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Mujeyi allegedly hatched a plan to steal from Veronica Wilkins and roped in her brothers, who helped her flee to Zimbabwe with the loot.
They allegedly used part of the money to build a house in Zengeza 5, Chitungwiza, and also bought a car. The three now face two counts of theft and money laundering.
According to the State, on May 11 this year, Mujeyi stole the money from Wilkins' bedroom and handed it over to Watson and Mathew, who were also working in South Africa.
It is the State's case that the three assisted the police in recovering part of the money and the car they bought was confiscated by police as an exhibit.
Constance Mujeyi (28) allegedly swindled her former employer and fled back home with her loot. The woman early this month successfully challenged her extradition to South Africa at the High Court.
The magistrates' court had notified Mujeyi of her return to South Africa to face trial despite the fact that the prosecution had not made an application for extradition.
This impelled the defence led by Mr Norman Mugiya to file an urgent chamber application challenging the extradition on the grounds that it was improperly made.
However, the prosecution has abandoned the application and will now facilitate for the complainant to come to Harare to testify in the trial.
Reliable sources in the Prosecutor-General's Office confirmed the latest development.
"The prosecution is no longer making that application for extradition," sources said. "The latest development is that the complainant who is the key witness in the matter is now being required to come here to give evidence. He is coming."
The extradition was supposed to be carried out on August 28, but the High Court suspended the decision until a proper application was made.
The move to extradite the trio came following a request by South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Mujeyi allegedly hatched a plan to steal from Veronica Wilkins and roped in her brothers, who helped her flee to Zimbabwe with the loot.
They allegedly used part of the money to build a house in Zengeza 5, Chitungwiza, and also bought a car. The three now face two counts of theft and money laundering.
According to the State, on May 11 this year, Mujeyi stole the money from Wilkins' bedroom and handed it over to Watson and Mathew, who were also working in South Africa.
It is the State's case that the three assisted the police in recovering part of the money and the car they bought was confiscated by police as an exhibit.
Source - the herald
