Karoro trial deferred to next year

THE trial of suspended Agriculture Deputy Minister Douglas Karoro and his four co-accused on charges of fraud, through corruptly acquiring 700 bags of fertliser from GMB Mushumbi Pools before selling them in Harare, was yesterday adjourned to early next year.

The trial was supposed to continue yesterday, but the court was overwhelmed with cases, forcing the State to apply for the trial to continue on January 12 and 13 next year.

Karoro is jointly appearing with GMB Mushumbi Pools depot manager Lovejoy Ngowe, Jeremy Phiri, Mugove Chidamba and Dean Dzimunya on fraud charges.

Their trial opened on Monday with the first State witness, Widdon Chiodza, who testified he bought the fertiliser.

He said he travelled to Mushumbi Depot with his two drivers to collect the fertlisers before the deal collapsed and then he only recovered US$6 400.

Through lawyer Mr Admire Rubaya, Karoro in his defence outline denied being involved in the said deal, saying his arrest was as at the instigation of his political rivals eyeing his parliamentary seat in the general elections slated for next year.

He accused his political rivals of abusing the criminal judicial system in their endeavour to unseat him and lay malicious allegations against him without ‘a shred of evidence’.

Karoro said he was not involved in any unlawful enterprise relating to fertilisers from GMB Mushumbi Pools and did not receive or benefit from the sale of such inputs.

He challenged the State to prove that he was involved in the alleged swapping of Compound D fertiliser with Ammonium Nitrate between Aspindale and Mushumbi Pools depots of the GMB as a way of covering up the alleged criminal offence.

Karoro would challenge production of any evidence obtained from electronic gadgets during investigations, which he claims was done without complying with the law.

Ngowe, who is represented by lawyer Mr Batanai Pesanai, also denied requesting and collecting the fertilisers from the depot.

He said he duly executed his duties without any criminal tendencies.

“The accused person denies ever misrepresenting to GMB or anyone about the 700 bags of compound D fertiliser,” said Mr Pesanai. “The accused person denies that he requested and collected the fertiliser in question under the circumstances described.

“The accused person will further deny that he intended to deceive any person to their prejudice. The accused will further deny each and every other allegation of fact to the extent that same impute any wrong doing on his part and the conclusions of the law thereof.”

Phiri, Chidamba and Dzimunya, who were also represented by Mr Rubaya denied the charges.

Phiri refuted asking GMB Mushumbi Pools to issue goods dispatch vouchers for the 700 x 50kg bags of Compound D fertiliser in his name.

He also denied conniving with his co-accused to sell the Compound D fertilisers to Widdorn Chiodza and denied receiving any money relating to fertiliser from Mr Chiodza or anyone else.

In particular he denied receiving US$10 700 from Mr Chiodza for the 700 bags, and denied handing this money over to Karoro.

Phiri also denied engaging Dzimunya to escort Mr Chiodza and his drivers to GMB Mushumbi Depot to collect the fertiliser bags from Mushumbi Pools depot and denied engaging Richard Tsiga to transport any fertiliser on behalf of Chidamba.

Chidamba said he was not involved in any crime involving fertiliser coming from GMB Mushumbi Pools, denied receiving money from Mr Chiodza, denied engaging Tsiga to transport the fertilizer, denied sourcing for replacement fertilsier at Farm and City after the deal collapsed, and denied keeping any of the fertiliser at his home.

The trial is before regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.