Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A 33-year-old Murewa man who was last year acquitted in a US$2,7 million armed robbery case involving ZB Bank has returned to court on fresh charges of money laundering.
Dennis Madondo now stands accused of using proceeds from criminal activities to purchase a luxury vehicle.
The trial, which began on Wednesday before regional magistrate Mr Taurai Manuwere, is being prosecuted by Mr Ngoni Kaseke.
Mr Kaseke said between January 5 and January 13, 2021, Madondo bought a Mercedes Benz E320 for US$9 000 and was found in possession of US$62 500.
Detectives from CID Homicide arrested Madondo at Chitowa Shopping Centre in Murewa while he was driving the vehicle in question.
Authorities suspect that the funds were linked to criminal activities.
During interrogation, Madondo allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation on the source of the money and car, thereby prompting his arrest.
However, in his defence outline through his lawyer, Madondo argued that the fresh charges were a rehash of the armed robbery case he was acquitted of.
He invoked the legal principle which protects individuals from being tried twice over the same offence.
He said both the cash and the vehicle were presented as evidence in his prior trial.
Madondo insists that the funds and vehicle were lawfully acquired through his informal business dealings over eight years, including farming, gold trading, and vehicle sales.
The trial is set to resume today.
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