Court Reporter
Three men accused of defrauding a local businessman of US$11,000 have regained their freedom after a Harare magistrate removed them from remand.
Magistrate Gore ruled that the State failed to provide enough evidence to justify keeping Albert Savanhu (55), Alen Marimbe (56), and Mthokozisi Mpofu (31) on remand, allowing the trio to walk free unless new evidence is presented.
The men faced fraud charges related to a failed offshore payment deal for Matthew Manyangadze, the Managing Director of Redmark Service Private Limited, trading as StemMagnetics. Manyangadze had transferred US$11,000 to the accused, believing the funds would be used to pay a Dubai-based supplier, Computrone Estore FZE Saif Zone.
However, the supplier later confirmed they never received the payment.
According to the allegations, Marimbe, a self-employed banking consultant and a friend of Manyangadze, had promised to assist with the transaction.
He allegedly worked with Savanhu, an employee at Craft Silicon Zimbabwe, and Mpofu, a Sales and Marketing Officer at KNARS Petroleum, to facilitate the payment.
When confronted about the missing funds, Mpofu allegedly admitted to receiving the money and signed an agreement to repay Manyangadze, but the money was never returned, leading to the fraud investigation.
Despite evidence recovered by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Cyber Laboratory, including WhatsApp messages and proof of payment documents, the State failed to present a strong enough case to continue with the prosecution.
Throughout the trial, Savanhu maintained his innocence, arguing that the allegations were unfounded and aimed at damaging his business reputation.
The court’s decision to release the men from remand does not mark the end of the case. The State may still bring them back to court if new evidence comes to light.
For now, the trio walks free, their liberty restored pending any further developments.
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