Tuesday, August 12
CONTROVERSIAL businessman Shingai Levison Muringi, who was convicted of contempt of court after he deliberately sold a car which was being used as an exhibit, is back in custody after he allegedly defaulted on community service.
Harare magistrate Lisa Mutendereki ordered Muringi to perform community service at Marlbereign Police Station.
A warrant for his arrest was issued after he allegedly defaulted performing the community service.
Muringi’s troubles started when he sold a car to businessman Patrick ‘Chimpa’ Mutenha.
It was established by the court that the vehicle was not supposed to be sold as Muringi had only been granted temporary access to the car.
In her judgment, Magistrate Mutendereki said:
“The court wasn’t there to look at the agreement of sale in the strictest sense but it had occasion to go through the court order and the terms of the court order had to be read holistically to establish the intention of its issuance.The car was subject to a criminal case that was ongoing, he (Muringi) was granted temporary use of the vehicle and it was to be made available if needed without disposing of it.
“The intention was that even though the accused was granted access to the vehicle he was supposed to keep it and by selling the vehicle he would have breached the order as he wouldn’t then be able to produce it upon demand by the court.On December 20, Muringi sold the car to Chimpa for US$50 000, he signed an agreement of sale and never disclosed the status of the vehicle to the complainant.
Muringi then hatched a plan to recover the vehicle from Chimpa and reported a matter of theft involving the vehicle.
Chimpa was arrested by the Vehicle Theft Squad.
During the course of the investigation, the status of the car was established.
