High Court forfeits 17 vehicles, US$37k in civil servants’ rebate fraud case

HARARE – The High Court has ordered the forfeiture of 17 vehicles and over US$37,000 after finding that a civil servants’ vehicle rebate scheme was unlawfully exploited using forged documents, in a case linked to a former Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) employee.

In a civil forfeiture matter brought by the State, the court ruled that vehicles imported without payment of customs duty using fraudulent rebate letters constituted tainted property and should be seized.

The case, registered as HCHACC137/24, involves former ZIMRA officer Tambudzai Yvonne Musoni and 33 other individuals.

Its reported Musoni and her husband, Melusi, purchased a property at Mabvazuva Estate for US$30,208, now valued at US$150,000. The property was transferred to The Tamel Family Trust, likely to obscure ownership.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA), the abuse of the rebate facility occurred over a 14-month period between January 2022 and March 2023.

Prosecutors allege that Musoni, who was stationed at ZIMRA’s Harare Port, fabricated and authenticated false duty rebate letters, which were then used to clear vehicles at major ports of entry without the payment of customs duty.

The forged letters were reportedly issued to people who were either not civil servants or whose rebate applications had been rejected.

Investigations revealed that the documents enabled the unlawful importation of multiple vehicles under the guise of the civil servants’ rebate scheme.

Musoni resigned from ZIMRA in April 2023 while investigations were ongoing. Prosecutors say she later left Zimbabwe, although her current whereabouts have not been independently confirmed.

In its ruling, the High Court ordered the forfeiture of 17 vehicles linked to the fraudulent scheme, as well as US$37,201 held in school trust accounts.

The court, however, released some assets after owners successfully demonstrated that they had been acquired legitimately and were not connected to the fraud.

The forfeiture followed earlier preservation orders issued to prevent the disposal of suspected proceeds of crime while investigations were underway.

The case was investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission before being referred for civil forfeiture proceedings under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act.

The NPA said the decision underscored the State’s commitment to accountability and the recovery of proceeds derived from corruption and abuse of office.

“This ruling reinforces the principle that crime does not pay,” the authority said.

“Proceeds of corruption and abuse of office will be traced, recovered, and forfeited to the State.

“The Authority remains committed to safeguarding public resources and combating economic crimes in the interests of justice and accountability.”