Mohamad, who is the
director of Ali Japan (PVT) (LTD) is on $100 000 bail with his passport held by
the clerk of court after his arrest together with Zimbabwe Miners Federation
suspended boss Henrietta Rushwaya on allegations of gold smuggling.
He appeared before regional magistrate Ngoni Nduna on
Friday seeking the release of his passport and scrapping of reporting
conditions for two months to allow him to travel and he volunteered to deposit
a further $2 million on top of his bail and title deeds to a Hatfield property
as surety for his return.
The court, however, did not agree with the two months
period he asked for and granted him 14 days based on what his invitation letter
stated.
“Whilst the court agrees that accused’s prayer be awarded,
it is concerned by the period accused prays to be given access to the passport.
He wants two months. This is against the reason for the request which is of
just two to five days duration. That aspect cannot succeed. The court will only
allow a release of just a 14-day period,” the magistrate said.
Reporting conditions which were imposed when he was granted
bail have also been set aside for 14 days starting February 6 to February 19.
He was also ordered to deposit $2million and original title deeds for the
Hatfield property as surety for the period.
The court noted that as he has volunteered increasing
security, “His abscondment means all this will go up in smoke”. In applying for
the passport, Mohamad through his lawyer Admire Rubaya indicated that he was on
his way to convince other investors to come and invest in the country.
He argued that the arrest of investors in the country is
counterproductive and it destroys the goodwill the new dispensation has made.
“The arrest of investors destroys the goodwill made by the government. He
(Mohamad) is one of the real investors that the new dispensation managed to
convince through various international forums to come and invest in the country
and to improve the economy and better the lives of people.
“He is an investor in this country and though he is accused
of a criminal offence he has not stopped investing in this jurisdiction. “The
arrest of the accused person as an investor where the arrest and prosecution is
unwarranted is counterproductive. He does not claim to be special but where
there is no evidence he ought not to be arrested. “This is a brazen abuse of
arresting and prosecuting of non-deserving investors,” Rubaya submitted. Daily
News
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