via Mbada employees’ trial dates set | The Herald July 9, 2014
The US$3 million diamond theft case in which seven Mbada Diamonds workers are jointly charged with a Mutare businessman for illegally dealing in precious stones will go to trial on July 23 this year. The case will be heard for three days up to July 25, 2014. When the alleged crime surfaced in March this year, the Mbada employees were treated as State witnesses, but were later jointly charged with the Indian businessman, Mudassar Khan, after they refused to co-operate.
Magistrate Mrs Sekesai Chiundura will hear the matter.
Allegations are that from August 1, 2013 to February 28 this year, the seven Mbada employees connived with Khan, who is already on remand, to steal diamonds from their employer and sell them to him.
The seven workers – Innocent Tsindi (35), Simbarashe Gondo (22), Temba Mvalo (33), Hardlife Kuudzehwe (23), Talkmore Chigeza (29), Tendai Gwazaza (38) and Tafadzwa Ngorima (32) – were allegedly transported by one Charles Gonzo (27), from the Chiadzwa diamonds fields to Khan’s Mutare office to deliver their respective parcels.
The workers received cash payments for their respective diamond supplies from Khan who also gave Tsindi, Gondo, Mvalo and Kuudzehwe a motor vehicle each as tokens of appreciation while Chigeza received two cars.
The offence came to light after a tip-off on March 18, 2014 and investigations carried out led to the recovery of the motor vehicles from the accused who in turn confirmed that they got them from Khan as tokens of appreciation.
The State will lead evidence from an accomplice and witness, Charles Chave, who implicated them in the alleged crimes.
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