By Courts Reporter
THE Supreme Court has thrown out an appeal by controversial businessman Mike Chimombe, who was challenging denial of bail by the High Court.
Chimombe is facing high profile fraud allegations after he allegedly duped the Ministry of Lands US$7 million by securing a tender to supply goats using a non-existent company.
He is jointly charged with his partner Moses Mpofu, whose appeal is yet to be finalised by the Supreme Court.
The two were denied bail by High Court Judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda who ruled that they were likely to abscond given the offence they were facing that attracts 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
The Supreme Court concurred with Kwenda ruling that his decision cannot be faulted.
“The court found that the State had established compelling reasons for his continued detention, including the likelihood of absconding, the seriousness of the charges and the risk of interfering with witnesses,” said the State after the ruling.
Chimombe has been at the centre of a high-profile fraud case involving allegations of misusing funds related to Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
Along with his co-accused he was arrested in 2024 Chimombe was initially denied bail by the magistrate’s court in July 2024, with the court citing concerns that he was likely to abscond and interfere with witnesses.
He appealed this decision at the High Court, but the appeal was overtaken by events when he and his co-accused were indicted for trial at the same court.
In January 2025, Chimombe filed a further bail application at the High Court, which was also denied.
Chimombe then took his case to the Supreme Court, arguing that the High Court erred by relying on the magistrate’s earlier findings instead of applying a fresh mind to his bail application.
He maintained that the State failed to prove compelling reasons for his continued detention.
He is represented by Ashiel Mugiya, who is instructing Lovemore Madhuku.
