Safari operator Fundira in court

Herald Reporter
SAFARI operator Emmanuel Fundira, who was arrested on allegations of externalising more than US$100 000 in foreign currency from hunting proceeds and other operations, yesterday appeared before a Harare magistrate and was remanded in custody to today.

When Fundira (49) appears in court this morning, presiding magistrate Miss Sukai Tongogara will rule on his application challenging his arrest.

Fundira, who was arrested last Friday, was brought to the Harare Magistrates� Courts in the afternoon and was not asked to plead to charges of contravening the Exchange Control Act.

Prosecutor Mr Never Katiyo said sometime in 2002 Fundira, who is the chief executive officer of Makuti Game, Safaris and Lodges, entered into an agreement with Out Of Africa Adventurous, a United States-based company.

According to the State, the agreement stipulated that Out Of Africa Adventurous would source clients on behalf of Makuti Game, Safaris and Lodges.

The State alleges that these clients would then make advance payments to the US-based company in foreign currency.

The company would in-turn deposit the money into Fundira�s accounts at Nedbank in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Bank of America in the US city of Las Vegas, the State alleges.

It is further alleged that the deals were made since January 2002 to date and Fundira, who is also the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority�s acting board chairman and deputy chairman, failed to repatriate the money amounting to over US$101 388 being the money for the hunting and safaris.

Earlier on, Fundira�s lawyer, Mr George Chikumbirike of Chikumbirike and Associates, challenged his client�s arrest. He said Fundira�s arrest was illegal since the High Court had granted an order for his release at the weekend.

Mr Chikumbirike said the police yesterday morning issued Fundira with a warrant of arrest after they had defied the High Court order.

"Police had been defying the High Court order until today (Tuesday) when they produced a warrant for his arrest, which is inappropriate," submitted Mr Chikumbi-rike.

The State called the investigating officer, Chief Superintendent Patrick Ncube, who said he had no comment on the issue of the court order since it was not presented to him.

Mr Katiyo also said the State was opposing bail since Fundira, who has international connections, was likely to abscond.

He further submitted that Fundira had bank accounts in South Africa and the US which had large sums of money and was likely to flee the country like what others had done.

Mr Katiyo also said investigations were still pending and releasing Fundira would give him an opportunity to interfere with the investigations and State witnesses.

US$100,000. It was Billions and Billions.

Out of Africa Safaris. That name has surfaced before in regards to illegal hunting in Zim, hasn't it?

Really! What are we talking 10 to 20 clients? I wonder who they didnt pay off. Hardly a naitonal scandal. On the other hand, what has huntress got to say about this?

......so the other question that springs to mind is what will happen to the deposits that the affected hunters have paid?........and will they lose their money?

Hands up all those who have paid a deposit to fly by nights for a Zim hunt in 04 & 05.......

At SCI people were talking about Out of Africa Safaris offering illegal hunts on seized ranches in ZIM. They were using RSA PH's, not ZIM PH's, which is also against the law.

U.S. law permits the landowner to sue the American client who hunts illegally on a foreign owned ranch - there was something in the Hunt Report on that. So the whole thing sounded like a big scam that could get everyone including the client in a lot of trouble.

There is no question that Out of Africa was hunting on illegally siezed lands in Zim during 2003. I have this first hand from one of the effected PH's. I was disturbed to see them in Reno, carrying on this business as usual with the support of SCI. It doesn't surprise me one bit they they were involved in a money laundering scam with another PH.

Bill

This thread is a good example of how underhanded many outfitters and their brokers/agents can be.

DON't KID YOURSELVES MANY OF THESE OPERATIONS ARE INTERNATIONAL THEY HAVE THERE SYSTEMS DOWN TO A SCIENCE

THEY KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO WIN YOUR CONFIDENCE AND PART YOU FROM YOUR CASH!!!!


C

Seems to be alot of underhanded things going on around here these days.

C

Caramelo

Why don't you stick to your own BS threads. You carry on very meaningful dicussions with yourself on them. Please don't fuck-up the threads where something worthwhile or interesting is actually being dicussed.

Not my intention to fuck up a thread but I will respect your request.
Sorry.
C