Mbudzi US$1m fraud: Ministry official gets bail

DEPUTY director of roads services in the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry, Enerst Shenje, was yesterday granted bail after spending several days in remand prison over a US$1 million fraud scandal.

He appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndiroweyi represented by Admire Rubaya.

The complainant is the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry.

Ndiroweyi ruled that the State, which was opposing bail, failed to fully convince the court how Shenje would tamper with evidence. Shenje was ordered to surrender his passport and reside at the same address.

The matter was remanded to March 6 for trial commencement. He was granted US$500 bail.

State prosecutor Zvikomborero Mupasa alleged that Shenje fraudulently claimed US$1 003 417 compensation for a property that was affected by the construction of a multi-level interchange at Mbudzi roundabout which is at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza and High Glen roads.

According to court papers, Shenje, working in cahoots with one Levy Idana, who is still at large, and some lawyers, manufactured a fraudulent agreement of sale purporting that Idana was the owner of Subdivision A of Subdivision B of Delft of Hopely which was in the name of John Maloney.

Shenje allegedly used the fraudulent agreement of sale to claim compensation, misrepresenting that Idana had purchased the property from John Maloney.

The court heard that Shenje went on to facilitate the processing, working together with other ministry officials.

As a result of their misrepresentation, Idana was paid US$200 000.