The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) arrested Andrew Tashanduka Bere, one the 7 suspects wanted in the United States of America for $7 million tax fraud. Bere was arrested at his family home in Chiredzi barely a week after the ZRP launched a manhunt for three suspects Chris Marimbire, Julius Marimbire and Andrew Tashanduka Bere.
Chiredzi Magistrate Geraldine Mustoto denied him bail and remanded him in custody. His accomplices the Marimbire bothers are still at large. However, Bere and his accomplices if they are caught, will not be extradited to the United States to face trial after the High Court ruled that the extradition treaty between Zimbabwe and the United States is invalid. This comes after the Marimbire brothers yesterday filed an urgent chamber application, through their lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara, to stop the police from arresting them in order to extradite them. High Court judge Justice David Mangota said,
The arrest and detention of applicants for purpose of extradition to the USA is unlawful.
Justice Mangota said that Zimbabwe has not complied with the requirements of the Extradition Act by incorporating the treaty which was signed in 1999 into law.
Bere, the Marimbire bothers and four others are alleged to have run a tax preparation business in Cincinnati, USA. Between 2006 and 2010 they used the identities of at least 658 people nationwide to file false tax returns and collect between $2.4 million and $10 million. The suspects sent money and dozens of luxury cars and semi-trucks back to Zimbabwe but also kept much of the profits to themselves, the indictment says.
More: News-Herald, Herald, New Zimbabwe
