A customs US$25 million corruption saga sucks in Zimra Boss

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A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority manager believed to be part of a racket that swindled the authority of approximately US$25 million by forging customs clearance certificates has been arrested.

Justice Muganda (36) was arrested last week after other members of the syndicate implicated him. The others were arrested in January and have since appeared in court.

Muganda is alleged to have connived with Justice Nyevhe (30) to originate a fictitious customs clearance certificate used to register a vehicle.

The two, who yesterday appeared before a Harare magistrate facing fraud charges, were remanded in custody to tomorrow when magistrate Mr Munamato Mutevedzi is expected to make a ruling on their bail application.

Appearing for the State, Mr Public Mpofu opposed bail arguing that the two were a flight risk.

It is the State’s case that on January 27 this year, CID Serious Fraud Squad Harare received information from the National Economic Conduct Inspectorate that the pair was involved in a racket that was manufacturing fake clearance certificates.

They allegedly used the certificates to facilitate change of ownership of vehicles on behalf of applicants for a fee. They would allegedly claim Zimra had cleared the vehicles.

The court heard that the duo submitted the fictitious documents to the Central Vehicle Registry and Causeway Post Office to formalise registration for the issuance of new registration books and number plates.

Nyevhe allegedly handed over the fraudulent documents to Itai Chaku- fora, one of the six already in custody, prejudicing the State of millions in tax revenue.