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Nyore Madzianike Senior Reporter

FIRED Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira’s bail application was yesterday dismissed at the High Court.

Mupfumira is facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million.

High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewera yesterday dismissed Mupfumira’s bail application after the State, led by Mr Micheal Reza and Mrs Sharon Fero, successfully convinced the court that she was a flight risk.

During Mupfumira’s bail application, Mr Reza and Mrs Fero told the court that Mupfumira had mansions in South Africa, Dubai and the United Kingdom.

They also told the court that Mupfumira was likely to face two more fresh charges of fraud and money laundering after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) reportedly established that she was involved in money laundering and fraudulently ordered companies dealing with the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to transfer money into her personal bank account.

The State told the court that it had completed its investigations into the fresh charges and will be ready to commence trial on the fresh charges once all due processes have been completed.

“She is on remand on seven counts of criminal abuse of office and from that time investigations on three counts have been completed where trial can commence.

“The three charges are complete and the applicant will be made aware and investigation papers have compelling reasons to deny her bail.

“She has a personal account 04422647590013 at CBZ that money was deposited into. This money came from companies applicant had directed NSSA to deal with.

“There is no reason why that US$9 182 was paid to her,” said Mr Reza while opposing bail for Mupfumira at the High Court.

The State further opposed to granting Mupfumira bail, alleging that she also ordered another US$13 600 to be transferred into her CBZ Chinhoyi account from Metbank.

It also alleged that Mupfumira filed medical reports with the State raising fears that once granted bail, she would abscond trial.

The State called the investigation officer into the matter, who is attached to ZACC, Sergeant Trust Chinembiri, who also revealed that they needed three more months to dig further into the case.

Sergeant Chinembiri also revealed that Mupfumira had planned to flee to South Africa, where she is believed to own a mansion in the leafy suburb of Sandton, on July 24, with the aid of her Chinese friends to avoid arrest.

Mupfumira is expected back in court on August 23 for her routine remand at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.