Zimbabwe’s state prosecutors are seeking to extradite a South African businessman who is accused of defrauding Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, to stand trial for an alleged $10-million truck scam. Four South African truck drivers caught up in the deal have been barred from leaving the country since their arrest four months ago.
Their bail hearing has allowed Zimbabweans a rare glimpse into the business dealings of the country’s presidential family.
Cassimjee Bilal, Henry Radebe, Samuel Risimati Baloyi and Sydney Masilo were arrested on February 20 and released on bail, but they were barred from leaving the country.
The four truck drivers work for Ping Sung Hsieh, a Taiwanese-born South African businessman who is alleged to have received $1-million from Olga Bungu, a security aide of Grace. The money was for the supply of six haulage trucks and trailers to the Mugabes’ Gushungo Dairy Farm.
Ping, state prosecutors say, did not deliver the trucks on time. When some of the trucks were delivered earlier this year to an orphanage run by Grace, the drivers were arrested and charged with fraud.
Prosecutors want Ping extradited to stand trial with the four truckers, but defence lawyers say an extradition may take years.
“The South African Constitution is clear on extradition of its nationals. The process takes long and is subject to procedures at the Constitutional Court, high court and the Supreme Court of Appeal. It can take years,” lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said.
“The four have lived in rented accommodation for the past four months. They do not have work permits to allow them to look for employment, and no one will accommodate them knowing they are accused of defrauding the first lady and her aide.”
The state’s insistence on extraditing Ping was delaying justice for the four men, Mtetwa said. “The state from the onset never noted the four would be tried with Ping and … that they would be jointly charged. It is a gimmick to buy time.”
The main players in the case, she said, were Ping and Grace, which raised the prospect of her being called to testify. But this was unlikely to happen because it might raise the profile of a case that had largely been kept below the radar.
Prosecutor Chris Mtangadura said the state’s focus was on securing Ping’s extradition so that the trial could start on July 25.
“We had anticipated we would be ready for trial after Ping is extradited to Zimbabwe. Allegations are the four acted in common purpose with Ping to deliver three trucks and trailers under vehicle temporary import permits when they well knew they were coming to deliver the vehicles permanently.”
Ping’s business relationship with Grace is said to include property purchases in Hong Kong.
A transfer of $1-million to Ping’s Chantrea Trading was made through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in August 2008 for the delivery of trucks, trailers and mine equipment.