Story by Fungai Jachi, Courts Reporter
A 32-year-old man from Masvingo who was arrested for unlawful possession of five dried lion heads worth US$100 000 has appeared in court facing charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Patson Ndlovu was arrested after police got a tip-off that he was selling lion heads.
It is alleged that police set a trap pretending to be potential buyers.
The court heard that the accused failed to produce a licence authorising him to sell animals leading to his arrest.
Meanwhile, in another case, four bogus police officers who allegedly stole a car after pretending to have arrested the complainant over a traffic offence have appeared in court facing charges of theft.
29-year-old Prosper Tatenda Thomo, Maxwell Musvisvi aged 34, Rodwell Dongo (41) and Norman Mungwarari aged 31 were remanded in custody for the alleged offence.
In another case, the trial of gospel musician Ivy Kombo and her husband Admire Kasi together with Huggins Duri was further differed to next month.
The trial failed to continue this Monday after the state made an application to tender an exhibit in the form of an e-mail extract which corroborates claims by a state witness that she received instructions to print certificates for Kombo and Kasi which the defence objected to.
The presiding magistrate is expected to rule on the matter next week, with the trial set to continue on the 4th of March.
The trio is facing charges of fraud after Duri allegedly broke the law to facilitate certificates for Kombo and Kasi to practice law in Zimbabwe without following stipulated procedures.
