ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa’s son, Neville, yesterday approached the High Court seeking bail on charges of illegal foreign currency trading and money laundering.
Neville was denied bail when he appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi early this week.
He is jointly charged with Simbarashe Tichingana and Ellis Majachani.
Neville faces another charge of breaching the Telecommunications Act.
His lawyer Jacqueline Sande argued that Neville did not commit any offence after he was found in possession of visa cards.
She said the cards belong to the banks.
“I submit that mere possession of bank cards is not proof enough that someone is dealing in cash. It is not even illegal,” Sande submitted before High Court judge, Justice Esther Maremba.
Bank cards are properties of the bank which has the authority to disclose transactions undertaken using seized cards, Sande said.
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She said Neville does not deal in cash and has not laundered any money out of Zimbabwe. Sande said Neville uses free funds to buy goods for resale.
Maremba will make her ruling on Wednesday.
During his court appearance at the Harare Magistrates Court, Mangosi said Neville was a flight risk.
Mangosi said it was on record that Neville has free funds and may be tempted to flee since he is a son of a minister (Women’s Affairs minister Monica).
He remanded him in custody to May 30
The State had opposed bail saying Neville was difficult to arrest after he blocked the police for hours from entering his house.
He was found hiding behind bags of rubbish after the officers forced their way in.
Prosecutor Thomas Chanakira told the court that there was overwhelming evidence against the three.
He said they are facing very serious offences and face up to 25 years in jail if convicted.
