Grace Pfumbidzayi
Three former Air Zimbabwe bosses accused of defrauding the airline of €5 175 593 and US$502 748 in an alleged insurance scam were yesterday denied bail because they are flight risks. Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza advised the trio to prepare for a rough landing in court.Ex-company secretary Grace Pfumbidzayi (49), acting group chief executive Innocent Mavhunga (53) and former chief executive Peter Chikumba face criminal abuse of office and fraud charges.
Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe dismissed Pfumbidzayi’s bail application because the alleged offence involves large sums of money and attracts a severe sentence if convicted. She is jointly charged with Mavhunga.
“There are extra territorial investigations to be conducted by the police and it is not in the interest of justice to grant the accused persons bail. The accused also have international connections.
“The State has a strong case coupled with the seriousness of the offence, these are good grounds to deny bail,” he said.
Pfumbidzayi and Chikumba, are jointly charged with criminal abuse of office and fraud.
Pfumbidzayi and Chikumba, are jointly charged with criminal abuse of office and fraud.
Their matter appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei who denied bail saying the pair was likely to abscond.
“The accused are facing serious allegations whose likely penalty can induce them to flee. They are likely to interfere with witnesses considering the positions they held at the airline, therefore it is not in the interest of justice to grant them bail,” he said.
“The accused are facing serious allegations whose likely penalty can induce them to flee. They are likely to interfere with witnesses considering the positions they held at the airline, therefore it is not in the interest of justice to grant them bail,” he said.
Chikumba, represented by lawyer Mr Admire Rubaya, said he is being victimised to ensure he fails to claim his exit package.
“The State has no evidence to link Chikumba to these allegations. Who was inflating the debit notes and to whose benefit?
“The State has no evidence to link Chikumba to these allegations. Who was inflating the debit notes and to whose benefit?
“We challenge the State to produce evidence in which Chikumba is involved in payments of these amounts. The accused was also not involved in the appointment of Navistar Insurance.
“The main reason for these charges is, politicians are trying to protect themselves and divert attention,” he said.
Mr Rubaya emphasised that when Chikumba resigned, he failed to collect his package due to ongoing audits.
Mr Rubaya emphasised that when Chikumba resigned, he failed to collect his package due to ongoing audits.
Submitting Pfumbidzayi’s bail application, Mr Andrew Muvirimi also insisted his client was being victimised for her persistence on good corporate governance.
“In a letter, addressed to the chief executive of Air Zimbabwe dated April 3, 2009, former minister of Transport Communication and Infrastructural Development instructed the airline to put insurance directly to international players.
“The minister woke up one day and realised they had no insurance cover for aeroplanes. There is no doubt that the minister acted according to procurement regulations,” he said.
Opposing bail, Mr Reza said the two would disappear.
“Prepare for a rough landing because of the sufficient evidence which will jolt the accused. Labour issues are dealt with at the Labour Court. If the accused was not paid his package, he should approach the relevant court,” he said.
“Prepare for a rough landing because of the sufficient evidence which will jolt the accused. Labour issues are dealt with at the Labour Court. If the accused was not paid his package, he should approach the relevant court,” he said.
Both matters were remanded to March 4.
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