The case of car theft in which a 29-year-old Zimbabwean, who was allegedly linked to a cross-border vehicle theft syndicate after he was found in possession of a Nissan Navarra worth R200 000, has been withdrawn because of inadequate evidence. It was suspected that the vehicle had been stolen in South Africa.

Lovemore Paradza of House 992, Medium Density Suburb in Beit Bridge, appeared in court on Thursday (March 20) on a charge of car theft before Beit Bridge magistrate Mr Tawengwa Sangster.

He had every reason to smile, however, after the court failed to link him positively to the alleged crime, because of a lack of evidence. The owner of the allegedly stolen car was also not found.

Initially, Paradza was released on bail of ZW$400 million and as part of his bail conditions, he was ordered to surrender his passport and to reside at his given address until the matter had been finalized.

He has since been given back his travel documents and the car. The state will, however, proceed with summons in the event of any new developments to the case.

The prosecutor, Mr Innocent Shumbaimwe, said that on February 15, Paradza connived with Zechariah Jere, who is still at large, and they went to South Africa where they allegedly stole a white Nissan Navarra twin cab at Global Exclusive Cars Pretoria. The court heard that the duo then proceeded to the Beit Bridge border post, where they smuggled the vehicle into Zimbabwe. The vehicle was then allegedly fraudulently registered in Zimbabwe in Jere’s name.

Police in Beitbridge were tipped off by the Pretoria SAPS and investigations led to the arrest of Paradza and the subsequent seizure of the vehicle, together with a forged registration book. The engine and chassis numbers indicated that the car was reported as having been stolen in Gauteng.

Mr Nkulululeko Fuzwayo of Calderwood Bryce and Partners Legal Practitioners represented Paradza.