Businessman defrauds taxman of USD80K

Patience Nhamburo

A Chitungwiza man, Trust Chiro aged 44 appeared in court today (Friday) for defrauding the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority of US$83.781 and ZWL$26.108.

Investigators discovered that in January this year, Chiro in connivance with Forget Muguza, who is still at large, and a manager at a Freight company known as Enver Freight Services, hatched a plan to defraud the state of import duty by falsely declaring consignments.

Muguza fraudulently renewed his company’s bond without the knowledge of the directors and unlawfully registered 5 trucks with transit bills purporting they were in transit to Zambia, yet they were destined for Zimbabwe.

Between 20 February and 9 March this year the two cleared the trucks at Beitbridge border post but investigations by Zimra later revealed that the trucks were laden with basic commodities destined for Zambia.

Three of the trucks were intercepted in Harare at Zindoga shopping centre. Investigators have not yet established the whereabouts of the other two trucks.

Further investigations also revealed that the South African Revenue Services had cleared the goods as destined for Zimbabwe.

Chiro was remanded in custody to August 23.