DELISH Nguwaya, who is challenging the magistrates’ court
decision to deny him bail, will know his fate tomorrow when the High Court is
expected to deliver its ruling on his application for bail pending trial.
He is facing charges of allegedly misrepresenting to the
Government that his company was a medical firm in an attempt to be awarded
tenders for Covid-19 medical supplies using his companies, Drax SAGL and Drax
International.
Justice Pisirayi Kwenda last week deferred the bail ruling
to yesterday, but postponed it to tomorrow. No reasons were given for the
postponement.
Nguwaya was denied bail by Harare magistrate, Ms Vongai
Muchuchuti, prompting him to appeal to the High Court.
In denying him bail, Ms Muchuchuti ruled that Nguwaya was a
flight risk.
She said the seriousness of the offence which invariably
attracts a lengthy custodial sentence in the event of a conviction could induce
him to skip bail.
Charges against Nguwaya arose after he allegedly
misrepresented that Drax was based in Switzerland, when it was only a
consulting company with no experience in the manufacturing of drugs.
Acting on this misrepresentation, Health and Child Care
Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo authorised a US$2 million medicine supply deal through
NatPharm.
Nguwaya allegedly did the same using Drax International and
won a supply deal worth US$40 million, the court heard.
The matter allegedly came to light after a notable variance
on prices charged by the companies to those prevailing on the market. Herald
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