A FORMER Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) accounting officer, Tapiwa Chidemo, yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing charges of swindling the revenue collector of over $1,2 million.
Chidemo (45) and his wife, Tsitsi Kanyasa (42), are being charged together with brothers, Clyde and Alfred Makaya and Ernest Matarutse, who did not attend the trial. The suspects denied the charges when they appeared before regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa.
Prosecutor, Constance Ngombengombe told the court that Chidemo approached Clyde and they formulated a plan to defraud Zimra.
Chidemo allegedly instructed Alfred to form a shelf company, Release Consultancy Enterprise.
The State alleges they opened an account with Kingdom Bank for the purpose of facilitating the depositing of the money fraudulently transferred from Zimra by Chidemo.
Between June 2010 to February 2012, Chidemo is alleged to have transferred $90 110 from Zimra to Makaya’s bank account, which he withdrew and shared with his alleged accomplices.
The State alleges Chidemo had the sole Paynet system and was responsible for refunds logged on the Paynet system.
Chidemo reportedly approached his wife Kanyasa between August 2010 and July 2015 and she transferred over $196 000 into a CBZ Bank account belonging to Nutrine.
On other occasions, several amounts ranging from $1 000 to over $414 000 were transferred into different accounts giving a total of $1 239 083,93.
The alleged offence came to light when Zimra ordered an audit, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Chidemo and Kanyasa are being represented by Admire Rubaya.
In her defence, Kanyasa challenged the State to prove she was the one who was operating the Cabs account in question and also that she was the one who personally withdrew the various amounts of money totalling $45 882,60.
Chidemo also denied the charges, saying he never participated in the alleged payments of the refunds and transfers of various amounts of money.