MDC-T leader jailed for 3 yrs in the UK
MDC-T leader jailed for 3 yrs in the UKNancy Pasipanodya
Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:09:00 +0000
Chibuwe (second right) is pictured here standing with Jonathan Chawora (in suit), the MDC-T UK chairman whose executive was suspended for misappropriation of funds.
THE Movement of Democratic Change party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's youth leader was one of the six Zimbabweans recently convicted and sentenced at Leeds Crown Court in connection with fraud offences, the Zimbabwe Guardian can reveal.
Sonny Chibuwe (29) , an MDC-T Youth Chairperson in the United Kingdom pleaded guilty on Friday 11th September 2009 of defrauding UK banks about £1 million. He was sentenced to three years in prison back in October.
The MDC-T youth leader who lived in Heights Lane, Heaton, was the sixth person to be sentenced for the conspiracy. The six were given prison terms totalling 21 years.
The MDC-T party, which calls itself "A Party of Excellence", still names Chibuwe as its youth chairperson on its website, despite the conviction.
In November the whole UK executive committee was suspended indefinitely after financial irregularities were uncovered.
The uncovered financial scandal is linked to former MDC representative and the inclusive Government's ambassador designate to Germany, Hebson Makuvise who the accusers say has to answer for an alleged disappearance of £54,000 from the MDC-T UK’s bank accounts.
Leeds Crown Court was told that Chibuwe and his co-conspirators used the UK postal system to steal cheque books.
The cheque books were forged or altered, paid into defendants’ accounts and money withdrawn.
Several banks were targeted, mainly the Halifax and mostly in the West Yorkshire area starting in Bradford, where conman Chibuwe lived.
Chibuwe told the Crown Court at the time of the trial that he had 'fled' Zimbabwe in 2002 and was seeking asylum in the UK.
The court also heard that he had been involved with PM Tsvangirai's party in this country, but had failed short of revealing that he was a youth leader.
His lawyer, Jayne Dodson at the time only mentioned that "he was well respected in that party". The sentencing judge said at the time that he had "blighted his reputation".
Chibuwe admitted to depositing cheques on eight or nine occasions.
Judge Kerry Macgill told Chibuwe, who pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to defraud, he had chosen to become involved.
The judge said: “This conspiracy cost the banks in the region of £1 million. This wasn’t small fry, it was a large conspiracy to defraud the banks of a lot of money.
“You helped and played a part in plundering the banking system.
“The message has got to go out that if you are here seeking asylum, however difficult your financial situation, you cannot resort to criminality on this scale and not receive a custodial sentence.”
He said the sentence meant Chibuwe, who has a wife and two children in this country, was liable to deportation after his prison term, but added: “That’s the unfortunate consequence of your criminality.”
The case was part of West Yorkshire Police’s Operation Illmington, launched in 2007 and involving the execution of warrants at 30 addresses in West Yorkshire and beyond.
The investigation is ongoing and ten men and a woman have been interviewed and bailed pending further inquiries.
MORE SCANDALS ROCK THE MDC-T
More scandals have rocked the "Party of Excellence" since it joined the inclusive Government.
There have been various convictions in Zimbabwe of MDC-T members of Parliament on various charges including fraud, rape and misuse of inputs. The MDC-T insists that the charges are trumped up.
The party has, however, remained silent on Chibuwe's conviction.
This month the MDC-T’s national executive also suspended Zengeza East MP Alexio Musundire from holding any party post for two years after they found him guilty of inciting violence.
He still remains Member of Parliament, says the party.
The national executive also fired its 20 member Chitungwiza provincial executive led by Martin Magaya for — among several issues — "aiding corruption" in the local authority.
MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa last week confirmed the suspensions and admitted there was "endemic corruption" in their Chitungwiza structures.
Former Chitungwiza mayor Israel Marange and ex-councillor Rangarirai Mutingwende were also dismissed from the party and could no longer represent MDC-T in the municipality.
Marange was barred from party activities for five years while Mutingwende was sanctioned for two years.
The MDC-T party has always denied allegations of violence and fraud by its members. Now that these cases are unfolding, it is yet to be seen what excuse the MDC-T leadership will come up with.
Labels: MDC CORRUPTION
posted by MrK @ 6:58 AM
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