By MELISA CHATIKOBO
ZANU PF MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena, who was arrested together with Cottco executives over allegations of fraud and money laundering involving US$5 million, is set to lose 22 trucks and two luxury cars after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) was granted a permit to seize his vehicles.
On Friday Zacc blocked two cars belonging to Wadyajena from crossing into South Africa.
Harare magistrate Barbara Mateko issued a warrant of search and seizure to Zacc on Friday empowering them to seize a fleet of trucks and cars belonging to the Zanu PF MP which are believed to have been acquired through corruption.
“There are reasonable grounds for believing that the managing director of Mayor Logistics (Pvt) Ltd and Justice Mayor Wadyajena are in possession or in control of the following vehicles which are required as exhibits in a criminal docket, and that is necessary for the purpose of investigating or detecting a case of fraud as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 & Money laundering as defined in section 8 of the Money Laundering & Proceeds of Crime Act Chapter 9:24 to take control of the said vehicles.
“These are, therefore, in the State’s name to command you to proceed to Mayor Logistics (Pvt) Ltd and Justice Mayor Wadyajena or any other person in control of the vehicles and there from immediately obtain and take into your custody the mentioned vehicles and take them to the Peace Officers and other Officers of the Law who are bearers of this warrant or other place of safety until the matter in finalized or until you receive further orders from Court,” Mateko said.
Among the 24 vehicles being seized, Wadyajena would lose his Lamborghini (SUV) vehicle and BMW X 6 vehicles.
All this comes as Wadyajena was last week arrested together with Cotton Cottco executives over allegations of fraud and money laundering involving US$5 million.
He was on Thursday granted $200 000 bail and ordered to surrender title deeds as surety.
He is alleged to have acquired 25 trucks from Cottco money that was sent to a United States firm on the guise of purchasing bale ties for ginning worth over US$1 million.
He was jointly charged with Cottco executives Pius Manamike, Maxmore Njanji and Fortunate Molai and companies, Mayor Logistics and Pierpont Moncroix, on three counts of fraud and money laundering with a cumulative value of US$5 834 000.
Wadyajena has claimed that Zacc is being used to persecute him by his political rivals.
He said this was demonstrated when Zacc officials went and searched his premises in Gokwe and found nothing.
This came out when Wadyajena’s lawyer, Oliver Marwa, was cross examining investigating officer Arthur Murambiza.
“You’re on a leash and the accused person (Wadyajena) believes you are being used by his detractors to raise malicious accusations,” he said. – Daily News