A 45-year-old trucker has been fined RTGS$3 000 after he
was arrested last week at Beitbridge Border Post while trying to smuggle 5 000
roofing sheets, two wardrobes and 18 salon chairs worth R447 700 from South
Africa.
Mudyiwa Nihape of Sunningdale 2, Harare, who was
represented by Mr Patrick Tererai of Tererai Legal Practice was convicted for
contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act by Mr Godswill Mavenge.
He was fined RTGS$3 000 and in default of payment six
months imprisonment. Mr Mavenge also ordered that the smuggled goods be
forfeited to the State as part of the sentence.
Prosecuting, Mr Misheck Guwanda said on May 22, Nihape
arrived at Beitbridge Border Post, en route to Harare driving a South African
registered truck.
The truck was loaded with roofing material, salon chairs
and two wardrobes.
Mr Guwanda said while at the border working with a customs
clearing company, the man attempted to smuggle the said goods using a
fraudulently acquired customs bill of entry.
According to the bill of entry the goods were being
imported by Masarawa trading as Super Builders and was being cleared by Aminaj
Shipping P/L.
The court further heard that Nihape was arrested when he
was about to leave the border.
The prosecutor said Nihape’s truck was taken for physical
examination to establish the actual value and potential prejudice to the state.
It was then discovered that had he smuggled the 5 000 by
0.23mm IBR zinc sheets, two wardrobes and 16 salon chairs all worth R447 700,
the potential prejudice to the state was RTGS$63 419. Herald
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