Police have intensified investigations into a case in which
they raided a Harare company following a tip-off last Thursday and recovered
US$4 million in cash and 98 kilogrammes of gold stashed in suitcases. Sources
close to the investigations yesterday said so far they have proved that the
company owners had a licence to deal in gold that was issued on July 2 this
year.
They said investigations to ascertain how the suspects had
managed to raise US$4 million and 98kg within a shot space of time were still
continuing.
There are fears that the suspects intended to smuggle the
cash and gold out of the country using illegal means, but this was thwarted
following the tip-off.
Last week, national police spokesman Chief Superintendent
Paul Nyathi confirmed the raid, saying the suspects had been picked up for
questioning.
Police received a tip-off that the suspects were illegally
dealing in gold at their premises in Borrowdale and went to investigate.
Police have since confiscated the money and gold as part of
the investigations. The cash was in US$100, US$50, US$20 and US$10
denominations. The suspects were taken to Borrowdale Police Station in Harare
for further investigations.
Chief Supt Nyathi said investigations were being done in
consultation with other State agencies. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police is still verifying the
origins of the 98kg of gold and cash which were recovered at a certain
company’s premises in Borrowdale on 5th July 2018,” he said.
“Investigations are being conducted in consultation with
other relevant State institutions such as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and
Fidelity Printers. The gold and cash have since been secured by monetary
authorities in the country.”
Chief Supt Nyathi said the public would be advised in due
course on the progress of the verification process.
The country has been negatively affected by externalisation
of money for a long time.
In August last year, police hunted down three Bulawayo
businesspeople on allegations of externalising over $7,3 million to Botswana.
The three were identified as Delny Deanna Ashley (41),
Farid Shahadat (45) and Ryan Gregory Joseph (29).
They were wanted for contravening Section 8 (1) paragraph
(b) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, Chapter 9:24.
President Mnangagwa last year gave an ultimatum to those
who externalised funds and assets to repatriate them within three months.
The ultimatum expired in February and a list of those who
defied returning the funds and assets was published.
President Mnangagwa last week said at least $850 million of
the looted $1,4 billion had since been returned to the country. Herald
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