A 26-year-old Harare man has appeared in court for allegedly using the informal Hawala system to pay US$5,760 for a Toyota C-HR imported from Japan without Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe approval.
Zaid Issufo Omar appeared before Harare Magistrate Mutendereki facing charges of contravening the Exchange Control Act.
He was not legally represented, while Polite Chikiwa appeared for the State.
The court heard that on September 22, detectives from the CID Asset Forfeiture Unit, who were conducting an operation codenamed “Cash Wheels”, received information that Omar had paid for a vehicle in Japan outside formal banking channels.
Detectives tracked Omar to Amori Auto Parts at the corner of Josiah Tongogara Avenue and Drummond Road, where he had reportedly left his vehicle with the company for sale.
After identifying themselves, the detectives asked Omar to produce the vehicle's import documents and proof of payment.
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Omar allegedly produced documents showing that he had bought a Toyota C-HR, registration number DAA-ZYX10 and chassis number ZYX10-061498, from Japan for US$5,760.
However, he could not produce telegraphic transfer records from a bank and allegedly told detectives that he had used the Hawala system to send the money outside Zimbabwe.
He was arrested and taken to the CID Asset Forfeiture Unit Northern Region for further investigations.
The State said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Exchange Control Division was the complainant and that the amount involved was US$5,760.
Nothing was recovered.
Omar was remanded to September 30 for plea recording and was granted bail.
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