High Court judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda has reserved judgment on an application by businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, who are seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against their convictions in the goat scandal.

 

The two were last month sentenced to 12 and 17 years in prison, respectively, after being found guilty of defrauding the government of US$7.7 million through a presidential goat tender scheme.

 

Their lawyers argued that the High Court erred in convicting them, claiming the essential elements of fraud had not been proved.

 

Justice Kwenda said he needed time to consider the application and the State’s response. He said:

 

“I have seen the application filed and the State’s response to it. I need time to consider the papers, and judgment will be delivered in due course without undue delay.”

 

After the hearing on Wednesday, 7 January, the pair’s lawyers told the media they would await the court’s decision. One of the lawyers said:

 

“We are not worried because that is a normal procedure. Since we agreed that the court would deal with the matter on the papers, this is perfectly normal.

 

“Our clients are not unhappy. We expect that, in the shortest possible time, the judge will hand down his order.

 

“It is likely to be an order simply granting or denying leave to appeal.”

 

If leave is not granted, Chimombe and Mpofu have indicated they will take their appeal directly to the Supreme Court. – _NewsDay_