Australian Man (42) arrested for illegal possession of company in Zimbabwe

An Australian man based in Kwekwe who allegedly took over a mining company after the owners left Zimbabwe and started mining gold was on Friday granted US$5 000 bail. He will, however, remain in custody after the State invoked Section 121 of the

Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

The section allows the State to detain an accused for a further seven days while it considers appealing against the magistrate's decision.

Lee Waverly John (42) who is being represented by Mr Admire Rubaya, Mr Valentine Mutatu and Mr Shelton Mahuni was granted bail by Harare magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma.

As part of the bail conditions, John was ordered to surrender his passport, not to travel 40km radius outside Kwekwe without the knowledge of the investigating officer and to reside at his given address.

He was also ordered to report three times a week at Kwekwe Central Police Station and surrender title deeds of immovable property worth US$100 000 as surety.

However, prosecutor Mr David Magwegwe said the State will contest the ruling.

The prosecution alleges that between February 2002 and February 2005, John mined gold claims of a company called KCGM after he illegally assumed ownership of the company.

He allegedly prepared a non-tribute agreement, between a company called Homestake Mining and Technical Services and Kwekwe Consolidated Gold Mines (Private) Limited.

Using the non-tribute agreement, John allegedly signed the agreement as the Guarantor and owner of KCGM. He allegedly wrote a letter to KCGM workers advising them that he was the new managing director of Homestake Mining and Technical Services.

It is alleged that since then he has been giving tributes and special grants to different people and companies, receiving royalties without mining rights from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

He was declared a prohibited immigrant in May 2009 after he was convicted for illegally representing KCGM or Homestake and fined US$400, the State said.

After his deportation to Australia, John allegedly declared himself a Zimbabwean citizen after acquiring a local identity card and a driver's licence.

He allegedly entered into tribute agreements with some companies to which he received $437, 479.

According to State papers, John allegedly wrote a letter to Julie-Anne Brandt in May 2003, on which he signed as the director of KCGM after filing a forged CR14.

He was later arrested after police investigations.

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