Ex-minister Mukupe jailed for three years
Harare- FORMER deputy minister Terrence Mukupe has been sentenced to an effective three years in prison coupled with a US$2 780 fine on Thursday, Express Mail Zim can report.
Mukupe was convicted of smuggling diesel in 2017.
Prosecutors proved that Mukupe and his accomplices connived to import 138 919 litres of diesel into the country without paying duty at the border.
When the tanker reached Forbes Border Post in Mutare, the four lied that the diesel was en route to the Democratic Republic of Congo, thereby bypassing the need to pay duty.
While the tanker was in Zimbabwe, the four then replaced the diesel with water, before driving the tanker to Chirundu where they were stopped by ZIMRA officials who wanted to check the contents of the tanker and the crime was revealed.
High Court Judge, Justice Benjamin Chikowore, who passed the sentences, stated that it was clear that the fuel was either for resale or some other business use.
“The value of the goods was substantial.
“The offense was committed by an organised criminal group.It was extra-territorial.Countering extra-territorial criminal activity is not the obligation of one country.This court will be mindful of this to deter not only like-minded Zimbabweans but also foreigners”,he said before passing sentence to the quartet.
Mukupe and his accomplices were facing fraud charges and an alternative charge of contravening section 174(1) of the Customs and Excise Act(false declaration)
