THREE men, among them a Zanu PF councillor, accused of using counterfeit notes, which they used to defraud EcoCash agents in Hwange, Binga and Victoria Falls of more than $3 000, were yesterday denied bail after being considered flight risks.
Tinashe Mungazi Own Correspondent
Nomore Nyoni (36) who is a Zanu PF councillor for Runde Rural District Council in Zvishavane, Pardon Nyoni (28) and Wellington Marihoho (44) of Number 1 Government house in Zvishavane, 2504 Mkoba 7 Gweru and 2034 Mkoba 14 in Gweru, respectively, were not asked to plead when they made a bail application before provincial magistrate Portia Mhlanga.
Making their application through their lawyer Tonderai Mukuku of Mukuku, Marondedze and Partners Legal Practitioners, the three argued that they were family men who were entitled to bail, as they had not been convicted of any crime.
However, the State led by Onias Nyathi opposed the application, arguing that the three were a flight risk and had the potential to commit similar crimes if granted bail, given that they were found in possession of five different identification cards.
The court heard that on September 3 the three proceeded to house number 47 Empumalanga, Hwange, driving a white Toyota Mark, where they produced one fake $50 note and purchased two dressed chickens.
The complainant, however, did not have change and they proceeded together to Empumalanga shopping centre to source some change.
On arrival the complainant gave Nyoni $40 to hold on to while she sourced for more change in one of the shops.
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When she returned she discovered the accused persons had disappeared with the two chickens and $40.
Smelling a rat, she decided to have the money examined using a money detector, leading to the discovery that it was counterfeit.
On September 23 the three again proceeded to an EcoCash agent in Ngumija, where they deposited $200 using fake identities.
Later that day the owner of the shop discovered that one of the $100 notes was fake.
“From there they struck at Saungwe general dealer in Ingagula cashing in $820 using different cellphone numbers before leaving the EcoCash agent,” the prosecutor said.
The complainant later discovered that of the $820 notes, $500 were counterfeit.
However, their luck soon ran out, as detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department, acting on information that a white Toyota Mark II with different registration plates was seen driving around Madumabisa village and its occupants were in possession of fake money, which they intended to deposit at an EcoCash agent in the area, hatched a plan to intercept them.
After a protracted surveillance, the vehicle was intercepted outside TM supermarket and a search was conducted, leading to the recovery of $500 in counterfeit $100 notes and $250 in fake $50 notes.
The detectives also recovered five identification cards, belonging to different people, leading to the arrest. The trial continues on 27 October.
