Mudzi-based gold mining company, Milmath Security, has approached the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) seeking a transfer of its US$650,000 gold ore theft case from the Mutoko magistrates court citing a litany of irregularities, which it blames on corruption.
Recently, a 32-year-old Mudzi man, Tedious Dumba Bote, who allegedly stole more than 2 153 tonnes of gold ore from the mining company in the gold-rich area of Makaha, was granted a US$400 bail by Mutoko magistrate Chiedza Gatsi.
This was despite the fact that investigating officer of CID Minerals, Fauna and Flora Unit, opposed the bail on the grounds that the accused was threatening witnesses and that further investigations were being conducted to recover some of the gold ore and a vehicle purchased by money realised from the stolen loot.
According to the letter dated September 18, Milmath Security pleaded with the NPA to have the case be heard at a different court.
The company revealed that a number of its previous cases were not being handled professionally at the Mutoko magistrates court.
"We write to you in connection with the above mentioned in which we are seeking your permission to transfer of the matter from Mutoko magistrates court to another magistrates court, and in support of the complaint's case, we respectfully ask yourself to consider our submissions herein," read part of the letter to the NPA.
"In the course of the conduct of business we have encountered various case incidents which have resulted in our organisation being a regular litigant at court.
"The application has been occasioned due to our perceived apprehension for failure by the court to deliver a fair and unbiased outcome in this matter.
“Our apprehension arises due to the challenges that we have had in the past with this honourable court in its biased manner of dealing with our cases, the same of which we have witnessed being repeated, we humbly submit, at the recent hearing of the accused's bail hearing hearing (Teddy Dumba)."
According to court papers, Bote allegedly stole 2153 tonnes of gold dump at Milmath Security Mine in Mudzi between July and August this year.
The accused was allegedly seen moving the gold ore using hired trucks.
He then allegedly acquired a Toyota GD6 single cab truck.
Police recovered part of the stolen gold ore, but a larger chunk of it is yet to be recovered.
The value of the stolen gold ore is US$646 128 and only US$7 200 was recovered.
Meanwhile, police detectives have recovered and seized the vehicle as investigations continue.