A BOGUS Zanu PF central committee member this week arraigned before Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande facing a charge of defrauding the co-director of Golden Shypa of US$10 000.
Mazhande remanded Wilbert Nyarugwe (44) in custody to today for bail application.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje alleged that last September, Douglas Muraza and his wife were introduced to Nyarugwe by their friend Kelvin Maponga.
Nyarungwe allegedly told the couple that he was a Zanu PF central committee member and referred to himself as Honourable Nyarugwe.
The next month, Muraza’s bus was impounded by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) enforcement officials in Masvingo for transporting smuggled goods.
It is alleged that Zimra officials seized groceries belonging to Muraza which were in the bus and issued a notice of seizure.
On the same date, Nyarugwe visited Muraza’s business premises and found him discussing the issue of the seized goods with his wife.
According to court documents, Nyarugwe allegedly interjected telling Muraza not to worry about the seized goods as he was going to facilitate the release.
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He allegedly told the couple that he personally knew and was in good relations with the Zimra Commissioner-General Regina Chinamasa and would engage her so that she could assist in the matter.
On October 6, Nyarugwe allegedly sent a text message to Muraza informing him that Zimra officers wanted US$10 000 to release the goods.
Muraza gave his wife US$10 000 to hand it over to Nyarugwe in the presence of their manager.
The court heard that Nyarugwe also instructed Muraza to go with him to Zimra Masvingo to follow-up on the release of the goods.
The court heard that Nyarungwe also pretended to be a central committee member to the Zimra technical services manager William Murashwa Gadzikwa informing him that he had come to check on the seized goods.
Nyarugwe was advised that they were still waiting for the report from the Enforcement section so that they could compile the release terms.
On October 24, Muraza received an email from Zimra which stated that he was supposed to pay ZiG893 529,59 duty plus 100% fine equivalent to duty, interest from date of seizure and storage charges.
Muraza immediately contacted Nyarugwe inquiring on why the terms of release were not as per their agreement.
The court further heard that Nyarugwe claimed he had paid Chinamasa, but promised to reimburse the money.
Muraza engaged Maponga so that he could assist in resolving the issue.
Maponga held a meeting with the two parties and also recorded a call from both parties.
Chirenje also told the court that Nyarugwe became evasive and failed to reimburse the money.
Investigations revealed that Nyarugwe was not close to Chinamasa.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Nyarugwe’s arrest.
