Former National Social Security Authority Investment Director Brian Murewa has denied ZACC allegations that he has been evading arrest for the past 16 months.
In his bail application, Murewa submitted his valid passport showing that he left Zimbabwe and returned to Zimbabwe during the relevant period for medical reasons through official ports of entry and exit.
Through his lawyer, Tafadzwa Hongwe, Murewa told the court that he had no motive to flee as he was not a party to signing the agreement that landed him in the dock.
Murewa told the court that when the police arrested him at his home he opened the gate for them, which was not consistent with the intention of the person to flee the jurisdiction of the court.
ZACC investigator Brenda Morero insisted that Murewa was not a suitable candidate for bail, but failed to prove that he was listed on Interpol’s Red Notice.
Murewa was released on US$500 bail and was ordered to surrender his passport as well as report once a week to the ZACC offices. He will return to court on May 14.
The allegations state that in January 2021, the NSSA decided to purchase a guesthouse in Kariba for use by its members and staff.
Pursuant to this endeavour, NSSA commissioned Murewa to search for a suitable property.
Murewa approached Palm Golding, a real estate company, which had been given authorization to sell Stand 989, Kariba Township, on behalf of Thokozani Family Trust and offered to purchase the property, which sold for US$220,000.
Palm Golding arranged a meeting for Muriwa with Thokozani Family Trust representative, Tendai Muzorewa.
In the state’s case, Murewa then negotiated a reduction in the purchase price to $215,000 and induced Muzorewa to agree to sign a sales agreement reflecting the purchase price of $240,000.
On 12 January 2022, NSSA, on Murewa’s instructions, transferred a total of US$300,000 to Platinum Investments Managers (Pvt) Ltd, the investment manager of NSSA, with US$252,631 earmarked for the purchase of the property.
On March 14, 2022, the Investment Managers delivered $153,000 in cash to Murewa to pay for the property.
Murewa allegedly continued to pay US$124,000 and was left with US$29,000.
